Infectious Myringitis
Alternate Names : Acute Myringitis
Infectious myringitis is an infection of the eardrum. The eardrum is a thin
membrane that separates the outer ear from the inner ear.
What is going on in the body?
Infectious myringitis is an infection of the eardrum that usually
follows a bacterial or viral ear infection. Vesicles, or small fluid-filled
lesions, develop on the eardrum. The infection interferes with the normal
function of the eardrum.
What are the causes and risks of the disease?
Myringitis is generally caused by an infection with a bacteria or virus.
Sometimes, the infection starts in the eardrum. Most of the time, however,
myringitis follows an infection in another part of the ear. Acute otitis media and swimmer''s ear can both lead to
secondary myringitis. Upper respiratory
infections, such as the
flu or pneumonia
, can predispose someone to ear infections.
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