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Distinguishing glue ear from otitis media

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

It is often difficult to distinguish glue ear from acute otitis media, particularly if the acute otitis is recurrent.

Factors suggestive of a diagnosis of glue ear include:

  • frequent attacks of otitis media
  • it is unusual for children to get multiple resolving episodes of otitis media
  • prolonged signs
  • otitis media will usually resolve within 6 weeks and certainly within three months
  • other risk factors:
    • cleft palate
    • Down's syndrome
    • allergy
    • family history

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