Understanding the difference between otitis media with effusion and other forms of middle ear infection is important. Otitis media is a generic term defined as an inflammation of the middle ear without reference to a specific etiology or pathogenesis.
Scientists have long sought to uncover the structure and function of viruses. Viruses are unique in that they have been classified as both living and nonliving at various points in the history of biology. Viruses are particles that are capable of causing a number of diseases including cancer.
A virus is a non-cellular particle that consists minimally of protein or nucleic acid (DNA or RNA). Except for a few cases, viruses are not surrounded by a membrane. In order to survive, it must replicate inside another cell, such as a bacterium or a plant and animal cell.