Inflammatory Diseases of the Temporal Bone

Abstract

Acute otitis media is an inflammatory condition of the mucous membrane lining the middle ear cleft, i.e., the Eustachian tube, the middle ear proper and the mastoid air-cell system. It is a condition which predominantly affects children under 8 years of age and arises in association with Eustachian tube obstruction, most commonly following an upper respiratory tract infection. In the past, the condition would seem to have been more severe than in recent years, having been not uncommonly complicated by acute labyrinthitis, acute mastoiditis or intra-cranial sepsis. The reasons for the decreased severity of the condition are not entirely clear, but factors such as improved social conditions, better general health, lower virulence of responsible organisms and the widespread and early use of antibiotics are almost certainly significant.