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Serous Otitis MediaAka: Non-suppurative Otitis Media, Mucoid Otitis Media, Otitis Media with Effusion, Secretory Otitis Media, Glue Ear

Definition
1. Retention of transudate fluid in middle ear
Signs:
1. Dull grey, amber or red TM
2. Bubbles or air fluid levels
3. TM retracted and moves to negative pressure
4. TM thickened and increased vascularity => opaque
6. Hearing Loss (<30 DB)
Management
1. Measures shown to be not efficacious
  1. Avoid Decongestants
  2. Avoid Antihistamines
  3. Avoid Systemic Corticosteroids and nasal steroids
    1. Butler (2001) Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 155:641
    2. Mandel (2002) Pediatrics 110:1071
2. Antibiotic Indications
  1. Bacterial URI present
  2. Children at risk for Otitis Media
3. Valsalva Maneuver
4. Myringotomy and Tympanostomy Tube placement Indications
  1. See Tympanostomy Tube
Complications
1. Adhesive Otitis Media

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 5/16/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.