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otitis

otitis

3 7.9
Swelling or infection in the ear that causes pain
  • noun
  • /oʊˈtaɪtɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : otitis
  • Patients with chronic otitis media, with or without cholesteatoma, comprised the largest group in this study.
  • otitis media
  • chronic otitis
  • acute otitis

Examples

  • A 55-year-old, immunocompromised man presented with a history of chronic left otitis media and multiple recurrent tympanic membrane perforations.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Because there is clearly an infectious component to chronic external otitis, antibiotics do play a role.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Women are more affected by chronic external otitis than men by a ratio of 2:1.

    Academic text (2001)
  • In 1949, when the patient was 37 years old, she developed otitis media in the left ear.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Following the removal of the foreign body, his health improved, the otitis media cleared up, and he gained weight.

    Academic text (1996)
  • In rare cases, chronic external otitis is a manifestation of an id reaction.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Additional head and neck findings included otitis media (6%), epistaxis (6%), and sinusitis (6%).

    Academic text (1995)
  • Otologic examination revealed bilateral chronic otitis media with abundant, stringy, mucopurulent discharge and extensive destruction of both tympanic membranes.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Many children experience otitis during their early years due to frequent colds.

  • The doctor recommended a follow-up appointment to check for any complications from the otitis infection.

Compounds

otitis media
  • Specialized
2 4.7

An infection in the middle ear, often in children, that causes ear pain and trouble hearing

otitis externa
  • Specialized
7.2

An infection or swelling of the outer part of the ear that causes pain, redness, and discharge

otitis interna
  • Specialized
7.9

Swelling in the inner ear that causes dizziness and vomiting

How Severe

otitis
  • Specialized
3 7.9
earache
6 1.3

Surface Forms

otitis singular
otitises plural

Morphology

otitis = ot + itis

The term is built from the medical combining form 'ot-' (ear) + '-itis' (inflammation), but 'ot-' is not a standalone English word and the medical suffix is specialized, so learners cannot reliably derive 'inflammation of the ear' from the visible parts.

Etymology

Otitis comes from the root ot- meaning 'ear' and the ending -itis meaning 'inflammation'. You see the same -itis in tonsillitis and arthritis, so otitis means 'inflammation of the ear'.