ABSTRACT
Acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME) are often temporally related due to pathology also seen in childhood. They are also encountered due to specific adult-related aetiologies. AOM is generally seen in infective conditions with the causative organism being viral or bacterial. It is a relatively common childhood condition and is seen less often in adults. Bacterial infection accounts for the majority of adult AOM cases presenting to ENT doctors. OME describes a collection of fluid in the middle ear often extending into the mastoid air cells. This may be secondary to a severe upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Most adults report a URTI preceding an episode of OME. Sinus infections often occur in affected individuals. As in childhood, OME can follow on from AOM or precede it. Barotrauma from air flights, typically during descent, is a common cause of OME in adults, particularly when travelling with a URTI.
