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Glite Dictionary
tympanitis

tympanitis

9.6
Swelling and pain of the eardrum or middle ear that can cause hearing loss
  • noun
  • /ˌtɪm.pəˈnaɪ.tɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : otitis media
  • The patient was diagnosed with tympanitis after complaining of severe ear pain and hearing loss.

Examples

  • Antibiotics are often prescribed for children suffering from tympanitis.

  • If untreated, tympanitis can lead to complications such as persistent hearing problems.

  • She was diagnosed with tympanitis after her ear infection.

  • The doctor explained that tympanitis can cause severe ear pain.

  • The patient was diagnosed with tympanitis after complaining of severe ear pain and hearing loss.

  • Antibiotics are often prescribed for children suffering from tympanitis.

  • If untreated, tympanitis can lead to complications such as persistent hearing problems.

Synonyms

otitis
vstympanitis
  • Specialized
3 7.9

Swelling or infection in the ear that causes pain

is more specific to middle ear or eardrum inflammation instead of general ear inflammation
otitis media
vstympanitis
  • Specialized
2 4.7

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

includes both middle ear and eardrum inflammation rather than only middle ear
myringitis
vstympanitis
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A swelling of the eardrum that often causes ear pain

covers both eardrum and middle ear inflammation rather than only the eardrum

How Inflamed

tympanitis
  • Specialized
9.6
otitis
  • Specialized
3 7.9

Surface Forms

tympanitis singular
tympanitides plural

Morphology

tympanitis = tympanum (semi-transparent) = tympan + itis

The medical suffix '-itis' clearly signals 'inflammation', but the root 'tympan-' (tympanum/eardrum) is specialized and not familiar to average learners.

Etymology

Tympanitis comes from the parts tympan- meaning 'drum' and -itis meaning 'inflammation'. So, tympanitis is when the eardrum or middle ear becomes inflamed, which explains the ear pain and hearing problems the word describes.