How should I treat an ear infection?

Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear segment of the ear. It is one of the two conditions that are commonly thought of as ear infections, the other being otitis externa. Otitis media is very common, and includes a whole range of medical conditions; all of which involve inflammation of the ear drum (tympanic membrane), and are usually associated with a buildup of fluid in the space behind the ear drum (middle ear space).