Is otitis media serious?
Yes it is serious because of the hearing loss it creates, and such hearing loss may impair the child’s learning capacity and even delay his speech development. It is also serious because it can cause severe earache and because infection can spread to nearby structures in the head, especially the mastoid. However, otitis media is not serious if it is treated promptly and effectively, and the hearing can almost always be restored to normal. Thus, it is very important to recognize the symptoms of otitis media and to get medical attention from the start.
