title: The role of food allergy in otitis media with effusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect the relationship between food allergy and otitis media with effusion (OME).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed on three different groups. The patient group was made up of 56 patients with OME (group I). There were 28 patients with food allergy in group II and these patients were investigated for OME. The control group consisted of 28 patients without any complaints concerning food allergy or OME (group III).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Food allergy was detected in 25 patients with OME (44.6%) (group I). In patients with food allergy (group II), OME was detected in 7 patients (25%). In the control group (group III) food allergy was diagnosed in 5 patients (18%) and OME in 1 patient (3%). The incidence of food allergy in OME group was statistically significant when compared to the normal group (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that food allergy may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of OME.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Cukurova University Medical Faculty, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Barlas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aydoğan
authors.forename: Mete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiroğlu
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altintas
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Ediz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yorgancilar
authors.forename: Ulkü
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tuncer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E