Abstract

Chronic otitis media is a major problem in India, especially in rural areas. It is estimated that 6% of Indian population suffers from chronic ear disease. This is significantly higher than the incidence reported in Western countries which is about 1.8%. To complicate matters, in India, there is general lack of awareness of the disease per se and also regarding the complications of the disease. Chronic otitis media is a sequel of acute or unresolved otitis media, particularly in children with poor socio economic conditions, and usually presents within the first 5 years of life. In the presence of a preexisting perforation or ventilation tube, infection may develop secondary to contamination from ear canal organisms or with an upper respiratory tract infection. Reflux of nasopharyngeal secretions may occur, secondary to loss of the protective middle ear air cushion with a perforation. The surgical treatment of chronic otitis media is still controversial. Tympanoplasty has been the mainstay of treatment in chronic otitis media. In non cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media, there has been much debate whether a cortical mastoidectomy is required or not.