What is Inflammation of the Ear?

Inflammation of the Ear
Endoscopic view (0° optic) of an advanced acute otitis media of the right middle ear. Severe inflammatory reaction and protrusion of the eardrum are found (source and copyright: Lenarz T, Boenninghaus HG. HNO. 14th Edition, 2012, page 87, [64]. Courtesy of Springer). Evidence and evidence gaps in the treatment of Eustachian tube dysfunction and otitis media. GMS Current Topics in Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Not Altered. CC.

Inflammation of the ear are inflammatory processes involving the ear that are typically due to bacterial or viral infections. Inflammation of the ear can occur in the middle ear, the part of ear just behind an eardrum, as well as the outer and inner ear. They can be chronic or acute. Acute ear infections are painful, but short in duration and chronic ear infections either don’t clear up or recur many times, they can cause damage to the middle and inner ear which is infrequently permanent.

Examples of inflammation of the ear includes:

  • Acute otitis media
  • Chronic otitis media
  • Otitis externa
  • Malignant otitis externa
  • Swimmers ear
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Last updated on May 26, 2022