Abstract

Acute otitis media-infection or inflammation? The answer to this philosophical question has real practical consequences. Initially, otitis can be an infection followed by an organism’s reaction in the form of inflammation. Or it is primarily inflammation, which is associated with a bacterial pathogen or proceed without the addition of a pathogen. In the case of “otitis-infection”, further therapeutic tactic is clearan antibiotic is needed. In the case of “otitis-inflammation” there are three possible scenarios of the subsequent development of process-self-healing, attachment of bacterial infection or gradual transition to otitis media with effusion. In clinical practice, it is important to distinguish between these scenarios in order to choose the right treatment strategy.

Keywords: Otitis media; Inflammation; Infection; Middle ear