What defines chronic otitis media with effusion (OME)?

Chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) is characterized by the presence of fluid in the middle ear that persists for an extended duration, specifically longer than three months. This definition highlights that OME is a condition where the fluid accumulation is not due to an acute infection but rather represents a chronic state. The prolonged presence of this fluid can lead to various complications, including hearing loss and impairment of the tympanic membrane's functionality.

In contrast, other options describe different conditions or aspects of otitis media. For example, recurrent acute episodes indicate frequent infections rather than a chronic state. Persistent discharge is more indicative of acute otitis media or chronic suppurative otitis media rather than OME. Lastly, the presence of perforation in the tympanic membrane is often associated with chronic suppurative otitis media, which differs from OME, as OME specifically refers to the fluid presence without perforation. This distinction reinforces the importance of the duration of fluid retention in defining chronic otitis media with effusion.