Surgical Management of Otitis Media with Effusion in Children

Abstract

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a condition characterised by a collection of fluid within the middle ear without signs of acute inflammation. It is most common in young children, with a bimodal peak at 2 and 5 years of age. Eighty percent of children will have had a least one episode of OME by the age of 10 years. At age 7–8 years, about 8% of children will have middle ear effusions; this incidence increases in winter. The mean duration of effusions is 6–10 weeks but some cases are more persistent.