在正常条件下,咽鼓管的黏液纤毛作用和换气功能可清除进入中耳的鼻咽菌群。然而,上呼吸道病毒可能会感染中耳并可妨碍此过程,从而加速发展为急性中耳炎。[3]Heikkinen T, Thint M, Chonmaitree T. Prevalence of various respiratory viruses in the middle ear during acute otitis media. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:260-264.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9920949?tool=bestpractice.com病毒可引发鼻通道和咽鼓管炎症,干扰中耳的正常黏膜纤毛清除和通风功能。[5]Sanyal MA, Henderson FW, Stempel EC, et al. Effect of upper respiratory tract infection on eustachian tube ventilatory function in the preschool child. J Pediatr. 1980;97:11-15.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6966684?tool=bestpractice.com[6]Winther B, Hayden FG, Arruda E, et al. Viral respiratory infection in schoolchildren: effects on middle ear pressure. Pediatrics. 2002;109:826-832.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11986442?tool=bestpractice.com产生中耳渗液,且鼻咽部细菌可污染这些渗液。[7]Gehanno P, Lenoir G, Barry B, et al. Evaluation of nasopharyngeal cultures for bacteriologic assessment of acute otitis media in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1996;15:329-332.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8866802?tool=bestpractice.com中耳渗液提供了良好的细菌生长介质,随后导致产生化脓性炎性反应。化脓及随后产生的鼓膜压力可导致疼痛和发热,这是急性中耳炎的典型症状。对于较严重病例,鼓膜可能会穿孔并造成脓性耳漏。炎性病变可能还会涉及乳突气房。幸运的是,急性中耳炎通常具有自身限制性。