Correct treatment of serous otitis

Normally, once the underlying cause is resolved, the uninfected fluid collected in the middle ear is expected to clear up on its own. Therefore, treatment is not typically directed at acute serous otitis itself. For instance, fluid accumulation due to a viral upper respiratory tract infection usually resolves within two weeks after the infection clears. If it persists, conditions such as allergies or bacterial sinusitis are investigated, and necessary treatments are administered.

In some cases, despite appropriate treatments, the fluid collection does not improve during follow-up. If fluid accumulation in the middle ear persists for more than three months and does not respond to treatment, surgical intervention may be required. This is done to correct hearing loss, prevent complications such as membrane collapse or perforation, and restore the health of the thickened middle ear mucosa. The surgical procedure involves inserting a ventilation tube. This tube ventilates the middle ear, alleviates the vacuum behind the membrane, reduces the frequency of recurrent middle ear infections, and prevents issues such as membrane perforation and adhesions, which can lead to permanent conductive hearing loss in adulthood. This procedure is one of the most common surgeries performed in children.