Immunoelectrophoretic study of proteins in middle ear effusion. A study of secretory otitis media in children.

An immunoelectrophoretic study of the proteins of middle ear effusions in children with secretory otitis media is described. The findings support the view that the effusion is an exudate as a result of mucosal reaction. The protein content of the fluid appears to decrease as the condition becomes more chronic, and this seems to be enhanced by antibiotic treatment. In cases of bilateral disease, the ears may be in a quite different pathological phase, thus each ear should be treated independently.