Home › ENT Conditions in Gangnam, Seoul

Acute Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infection) Care in Gangnam, Seoul

Medically reviewed by Dr. Kim Yoo Suk, MD · Board-certified otolaryngologist · Former professor, Yonsei & Ajou University · Consultations in English

What is acute otitis media?

Acute otitis media (AOM) is a bacterial or viral infection of the middle ear, the small, air-filled chamber behind the eardrum that contains the hearing bones (ossicles). The middle ear is connected to the back of the nose by the Eustachian tube. When a cold or allergy causes swelling, the tube blocks, fluid collects behind the eardrum, and germs multiply.

AOM is most common in young children, but adults get it too, often after an upper respiratory infection or flight.

Symptoms

• Ear pain, sometimes severe and throbbing
• Fever and feeling unwell
• Muffled hearing and a sense of pressure
• Discharge from the ear if the eardrum ruptures, often followed by pain relief
• In children: ear tugging, irritability, poor sleep and reduced appetite

Causes

The most common bacteria are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis; viruses often start the process. Risk factors include colds, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, Eustachian tube dysfunction, smoking or secondhand smoke, and in children, enlarged adenoids and daycare attendance.

How it's diagnosed at our Gangnam clinic

Dr. Kim examines the eardrum with magnification, looking for bulging, redness and fluid behind it. Tympanometry measures how the eardrum moves and confirms middle ear fluid. A hearing test may be performed if hearing loss persists. Because the nose and middle ear are linked, he often examines the nasal passages and nasopharynx with nasal endoscopy, particularly in adults with one-sided or recurrent problems, to look for a blockage near the Eustachian tube opening.

Treatment options

• Pain relief: acetaminophen or ibuprofen as appropriate
• Watchful waiting: for mild cases in suitable patients, with review if not improving in 48–72 hours
• Antibiotics: for severe pain, high fever, discharge, symptoms lasting more than two to three days, or higher-risk patients
• Treating the nose: saline rinses and allergy treatment to help the Eustachian tube open
• Myringotomy: a small opening in the eardrum to release fluid, considered for severe pain, complications or fluid that will not clear

After an infection, fluid can remain for weeks; this is known as otitis media with effusion and is checked at follow-up.

When to see an ENT

See an ENT for ear pain with fever, ear discharge, or symptoms not improving after two days. Seek urgent care for swelling or redness behind the ear, a protruding ear, severe headache, stiff neck, facial weakness, confusion or severe dizziness, which can signal complications.

Seeing Dr. Kim in English

Dr. Kim Yoo Suk, former Yonsei clinical assistant professor and Ajou assistant professor, brings a nose specialist's perspective to middle ear problems, since many begin in the nose. He treats all ENT conditions and explains your options in English. Our clinic is a two-minute walk from Gangnam-gu Office Station; see location and hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do adults get middle ear infections?

Yes, though less often than children. In adults, middle ear infections usually follow a cold, sinus infection, allergies or a flight. Recurrent or one-sided infections in adults warrant a look at the nose and nasopharynx to check the Eustachian tube opening.

Will I always need antibiotics for an ear infection?

Not always. Many mild middle ear infections improve on their own with pain relief. Antibiotics are recommended for severe or persistent symptoms, ear discharge, or higher-risk patients. Dr. Kim decides based on the eardrum findings and your symptoms.

Can I fly with a middle ear infection?

Flying with an active middle ear infection can be very painful and may risk eardrum injury, because the blocked Eustachian tube cannot equalize pressure. If travel is unavoidable, see an ENT beforehand for advice on decongestants and other measures.

This page is general medical information written and reviewed by an ENT specialist. It is not a diagnosis. Symptoms differ between people — please see a doctor for an examination. In an emergency in Korea, call 119.