Upper respiratory infections--otitis media.

Nose, throat, upper respiratory conditions are leading causes of morbidity in women of all age groups. The normal tympanic membrane (A) is a pale, gray, ovoid semitransplant membrane situated obliquely at the end of the bony external auditory canal. In early otitis media, the membrane is retracted and pink with dilatation of the manubrial and circumferential vessels. Later, as the disease progresses, the membrane bulges, becoming fiery red in color (B) and may eventually perforate. In serous otitis media (C), pneumatic otoscopy reveals that the tympanic membrane is retracted and shows decreased mobility. Bubbles in the effusion occasionally may be seen. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.