OtitisSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Otitis
Otitis is a term for an infection or inflammation of the ear.
Ear infection; Infection - ear
Otitis can affect the inner or outer parts of the ear. The condition can be:
- An acute ear infection -- Starts suddenly and lasts for a short period of time. It is often painful.
- A chronic ear infection -- Occurs when the ear infection does not go away or keeps coming back. It may cause long-term damage to the ear.
Based on location, otitis can be:
- Otitis externa (swimmer's ear) -- Involves the outer ear and ear canal. A more severe form can spread into the bones and cartilage around the ear.
- Otitis media (ear infection) -- Involves the middle ear, which is located just behind the eardrum.
- Otitis media with effusion -- Occurs when there is thick or sticky fluid behind the eardrum in the middle ear, but there is no ear infection. Also called serous otitis media.
M Health Fairview Clinic Maple Grove
Sebahattin Cureoglu is a Pediatric Otolaryngologist and an Otolaryngologist practicing medicine in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Dr. Cureoglu is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Otitis. He is also highly rated in 10 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Labyrinthitis, Otitis, Otosclerosis, Familial Otosclerosis, and Myringotomy. Dr. Cureoglu is currently accepting new patients.
Noga Lavi-Givon practices practicing medicine in Beersheba, Israel. Ms. Lavi-Givon is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Otitis. She is also highly rated in 7 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Strep Throat, Otitis, Pneumonia, and Pneumococcal Meningitis.
Susanna Esposito practices practicing medicine in Parma, Italy. Ms. Esposito is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Otitis. She is also highly rated in 75 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Pneumonia, Otitis, Flu, Bone Marrow Aspiration, and Splenectomy.
Summary: Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common bacterial infection in young children and a major contributor to healthcare utilization and costs. Diagnosis relies on otoscopy and identification of tympanic membrane (TM) bulging, yet physician-performed otoscopy has variable diagnostic accuracy and depends heavily on clinical expertise. Digital otoscopy combined with artificial intelligence (AI)-based...
Summary: The purpose of this study is to learn about the safety of a new pneumococcal vaccine and how the new pneumococcal vaccine helps to fight against germs that can cause pneumonia (lung infections), meningitis (brain infections), and otitis media (ear infections) in infants when compared to the pneumococcal vaccine that is currently in use, 20vPnC (Prevnar 20®). This study will test if the new pneumoc...
Published Date: July 03, 2026
Published By: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Regional Medical Director of Penn Medicine Primary and Specialty Care, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Matlock AG, Pfaff JA. Otolaryngology. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 58.
Player B. Otitis media. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 680.
Tahtinen PA, Pelton SI. Otitis externa, otitis media, and mastoiditis. In: Blaser MJ, Cohen JI, Holland SM, et al, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 63.
Weinreich HM, Martin E, Santos F. Chronic otitis media, mastoiditis, and petrositis. In: Francis HW, Haughey BH, Hillel AT, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 139.