Otitis Media
Otitis media research papers examine the common medical condition that affects many. Nursing students often require research on otitis media to complete course requirements that examine common childhood disorders. Paper Masters can custom write an otitis media research paper for any medical health class you have.
Otitis media is the medical term for a middle ear infection. There are millions of cases of otitis media each year, and it is highly treatable with antibiotics. It is the most common reason for earaches in infants and children, but many adults are also affected.
Otitis Media and the Middle Ear
The middle ear is the space behind the eardrum, where small bones vibrate from sound and pass the information along to the inner ear. When a person has cold, influenza, or other respiratory infection, fluid can back up the Eustachian tube from the sinuses into the middle ear. When the middle ear experiences a damp, warm and stagnant atmosphere, such as the result of a clogged Eustachian tube, an infection will likely result.
Young children experience otitis media more often because the Eustachian tube, in general, is soft and often has difficulty staying open. Cases of otitis media are the second most common reason for pediatrician office visits, after well-child visits. Almost half of all antibiotic prescriptions in America today are for children with otitis media.
Middle ear infections are very treatable, and generally respond quickly to antibiotics. However, if left untreated, otitis media can have severe complications, including:
- Hearing loss
- A perforation of the eardrum
- Meniere's disease in adults.