Overview Bullous myringitis (BM) is a common infectious condition characterized by vesicles or bullae on the tympanic membrane. It does not affect the contents of the middle or external ear. If the middle ear gets involved, the condition will be consistent with acute otitis media (AOM) and not merely BM. Since the tympanic membrane is well-innervated, the most common manifestation of BM is moderate to severe pain, and the physical findings of BM may be similar to those of AOM.
Etiology BM is predominantly caused by viruses such as Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or influenza viruses, and Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most commonly identified bacteria. Other bacterial pathogens include Group A Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Recurrent otitis media can occur due to an infection with two bacterial pathogens or coinfection of a…
