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Otitis

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Ear anatomy Medical findings based on ear anatomy Middle ear infection (otitis media)

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Otitis

Definition:

Otitis is any of several disorders involving infection and/or inflammation of the internal or external ear.

Alternative Names:
Ear infection; Infection - ear

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Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Otitis can affect the internal ear (media) or the external ear (externa). Otitis is classified according to whether it occurs suddenly and for a short time (acute) or if it occurs repeatedly or persistently over a long period of time (chronic).

Specific types of ear infection include:

• Otitis externa - acute
• Otitis externa - chronic
• Otitis externa - malignant
• Otitis media - acute
• Otitis media -chronic
• Otitis media - with effusion

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