[The red tympanic membrane].

An otoscopic red tympanic membrane is for the examiner a challenge. A short directed history, as well as a few functional examinations associated to a systematic otoscopy allow in most cases to make the otological diagnosis. The differential diagnosis for a red tympanic membrane is very large, including malformations, traumas, infections, and even tumors and other degenerative pathologies. The first diagnosis to think about is an infectious disease. On the other side, there are rare pathologies which, even for experienced examiners are quite seldom.