Aseptic Otitis Media

Aseptic otitis media is characterized by alteration of the tympanic membrane and middle ear mucosa and by accumulation of fluid within the tympanic cavity. A number of clinical terms are used to describe this disease; however, since the agent used to induce the experimental inflammatory response was chemical the term aseptic seems appropriate. Patients with this disease rarely have constitutional symptoms or signs, and a wealth of data attest to the difficulty encountered in therapy. Development of appropriate treatment requires a better understanding of the mechanism of fluid retention in the middle ear. At present there is no completely adequate explanation of fluid retention but several possibilities have been suggested, namely, the physical properties of the fluid preclude its removal or the mechanism for removal ( Eustachian tube) is defective, or both.