Chronic middle ear effusions (secretory otitis media).
Middle ear effusions are common in childhood and are a serious cause of disability and learning difficulty. The symptoms and signs tend to be obscure, but a high index of suspicion should be cultivated with primary care physicians, paediatricians, schoolteachers, and parents. Treatment is medical in the early stages, but a high proportion of patients require the surgical insertion of pressure equalization tubes. The condition tends to run a protracted course, but the eventual outlook is favourable.
D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000503:physiopathology; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy