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Otitis Media with Effusion

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Middle Ear Diseases

Abstract

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is an inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of fluid in the middle ear behind an intact tympanic membrane without signs and symptoms of an acute infection.

The pathogenesis is essentially relying on two concepts: the ET dysfunction (ex-vacuo) and the inflammatory process. Important risk factors are described in detail. Newest advances in the molecular biology of OME with the implication of different mediators are illustrated. The clinical symptomatology and the otoscopic findings are presented. The complementary diagnostic role of tympanometry is studied. The differential diagnosis of OME is reviewed. The natural evolution of OME and various options of its management are explained.

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Mansour, S., Magnan, J., Nicolas, K., Haidar, H. (2018). Otitis Media with Effusion. In: Middle Ear Diseases. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72962-6_3

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