Chronic otitis media is a chronic inflammation of the middle ear and mastoid cavity that presents with recurrent ear discharge through a perforated eardrum. It has several subtypes depending on the state of the eardrum perforation and epithelium. It can be caused by prior acute otitis media, genetics, environment, eustachian tube issues, gastroesophageal reflux disease, craniofacial abnormalities, or immune deficiency.