Acute purulent otitis media

In acute purulent otitis media, middle-ear fluid is purulent, containing many neutrophils, mucous strands, and cell remnants. Bacterial cultures are usually, but not always, positive. The incidence of acute purulent otitis media has been assessed in many studies. Certain groups are particularly prone to acute otitis media. Premature infants, children with atopic diseases, and children from lower socioeconomic populations frequently experience this disease. Essentially all infants with a cleft palate develop suppurative otitis media. Howie has suggested that children who have pneumococcal otitis media in the first year of life are at an increased risk of subsequent episodes of suppurative otitis media.