secretory otitis media

Secretory otitis media is an ear disorder where the middle-ear cavity fills with non-infected fluid, causing painless hearing loss. This occurs due to poor ventilation of the middle ear through the eustachian tube.

The air in the middle ear is absorbed, and fluid replaces it. Common causes include colds, allergies affecting the eustachian tube, or enlarged adenoids blocking the tube. Treatment involves addressing the cause and removing the fluid, sometimes requiring a small tube to be inserted into the eardrum to help ventilation. Antibiotics are generally not needed if there's no fever or infection. Otitis media, in general, is the inflammation of the middle ear lining and is common in children, often following upper respiratory infections.12