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Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear. Otitis media with effusion (OME) refers to fluid in the middle ear space, but without the symptoms of an acute infection. Children with acute otitis media (acute ear infection) have fluid in the middle ear accompanied by signs or symptoms such as ear pain, redness of the eardrum, or fever. Children with an acute ear infection act sick, especially at night. Children with OME do not. The fluid in OME is often thin and watery. "Glue ear" is a common name given to OME with thick, viscous effusion (fluid).
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