Treatment for Eosinophilic Otitis Media

Eosinophilic Otitis Media (EOM) is remarkably characterized by viscous middle ear effusion (MEE) infiltrated with numerous eosinophils. Since EOM is a high risk disease of progressive hearing loss, early diagnosis and management of appropriate treatment along with an understanding of the pathology of EOM are imperative. The treatment strategies for EOM comprise the removal of the highly viscous MEE enriched with a cytotoxic protein derived from eosinophils, and the suppression of local and systemic eosinophilic inflammation. Here, we introduce how we treat EOM patients in our department concretely. Regarding the management of the acute phase of EOM, topical and/or systemic steroids have proven their efficacy. Regarding the long-term management of EOM, a combination of various antiallergic drugs that have proven efficacy for eosinophilic inflammation is beneficial. In a considerable number of EOM cases, we have succeeded cessation of topical and systemic steroids.