Final answer:
Acute otitis media often leads to otitis media with effusion, where fluid becomes trapped in the middle ear and creates an environment for secondary bacterial infections. Symptoms include ear pain, fever, and distress. Children are more prone to these conditions due to anatomical and behavioral factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Secondary to acute otitis media (AOM), commonly an infection of the middle ear, several complications can occur. One such complication is otitis media with effusion (OME), where fluid accumulates in the middle ear, providing a breeding ground for bacteria. This may lead to secondary bacterial infections and chronic problems, including recurring earaches. A secondary infection happens when bacteria from the respiratory tract become trapped in the eustachian tube, leading to additional infection beyond the initial viral cause of the AOM. The anatomical and behavioral characteristics of young children, such as shorter eustachian tubes and bottle-feeding while lying down, contribute to the increased incidence of AOM and its secondary effects in this population.
Furthermore, symptoms such as ear pain (otalgia), fever, and general distress can be indicative of AOM and the resulting secondary issues. Without proper drainage, pus formed during the infection can lead to significant discomfort and inflammation, with swelling of the eustachian tubes possibly escalating into systemic symptoms.