ABSTRACT
Acute otitis media (AOM) describes a viral or bacterial infection of the middle ear and mastoid air cell system which results in mucosal inflammation, is associated with a middle ear effusion and results in a variable collection of symptoms and signs. It is one of the most common illnesses in childhood, with a peak incidence between 6 and 18 months. The majority of episodes of AOM may be associated with viral infection. The typical respiratory tract viruses are respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza a virus, parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses and rhinovirus. Commonly identified bacterial pathogens include Haemophilus Influenzae, Streptococcus species, Moraxella catarrhalis and Staphylococcus aureus. The most common complication in adults is acute mastoiditis; while it is a relatively common complication in adults, the incidence of AOM in adults is significantly lower than that in children, and acute mastoiditis is consequently predominantly a disease of childhood.
