acute otitis media

noun

Definition of acute otitis media

: infection of the middle ear that is of rapid onset and is marked by inflammation, earache, fever, decreased hearing, fluid in the middle ear, and sometimes rupture of the tympanic membrane

Note: Acute otitis media is most common in infants and young children. It is caused by a bacterium or virus and typically occurs as a complication of an upper respiratory infection.

—abbreviation AOM

Examples of acute otitis media in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In February 2020, the company signed a deal with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital to develop a vaccine for acute otitis media, or middle-ear infections, which account for 20 million doctor visits a year in the United States. — Anne Saker, The Enquirer, 6 May 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'acute otitis media.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Acute otitis media.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acute%20otitis%20media. Accessed 16 Oct. 2021.

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acute otitis media

noun

Medical Definition of acute otitis media

: infection of the middle ear that is of rapid onset and is marked by inflammation, earache, fever, decreased hearing, fluid in the middle ear, and sometimes rupture of the tympanic membrane

Note: Acute otitis media is most common in infants and young children. It is caused by a bacterium or virus and typically occurs as a complication of an upper respiratory infection.

… acute otitis media … is the most frequent childhood illness after the cold and the most common pediatric diagnosis for which antibiotics are prescribed.— Marianne Neifert, Baby Talk, December/January 2001 —abbreviation AOM