Middle ear ventilation after acute otitis media.
The investigation includes 43 children (82 ears) with acute otitis media who were treated with paracentesis and antibiotics. The middle ear pressure was measured 7 days, 14 days, 1 month, and 2 months after the otitis. A follow-up examination was performed 4-12 months after the otitis. The normalization process was extremely slow: 3 months after the otitis only 37% of the ears had a pressure between 0 and -50 mm H2O, and 24% had flat curves and chronic secretory otitis. 3-12 months after, 49% of the ears had a normal pressure. A discussion on whether the middle ear ventilation had been reduced before the present otitis, or whether the slow normalization process is due to the changes in the mucous membrane is presented. The first assumption seems to be more probable. The significance of poor ventilation in the occurrence of recurrency is emphasized. Tympanometry is recommended 1-3 months after otitis, especially in recurrent otitis media.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000388:Air; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011312:Pressure