Main Entry: otitis me·dia

Pronunciation: \-ˈmēd-ē-ə\

Function: noun

: acute or chronic inflammation of the middle ear ; especially : an acute inflammation especially in infants or young children that is caused by a virus or bacterium, usually occurs as a complication of an upper respiratory infection, and is marked by earache, fever, hearing loss, and sometimes rupture of the tympanic membrane—see serous otitis media