The role of food allergy in otitis media with effusion.
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.
Aydoğan
Barlas
B
Department of Otolaryngology, Cukurova University Medical Faculty, Adana, Turkey.
Kiroğlu
Mete
M
Altintas
Derya
D
Yilmaz
Mustafa
M
Yorgancilar
Ediz
E
Tuncer
Ulkü
U
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
D007073:Immunoglobulin E