Detection of Helicobacter pylori in children with otitis media with effusion: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the middle ear effusion of patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


METHODS
A prospective study in patients with OME.


METHODS
The study was performed in 38 patients with OME who were admitted to the ENT Clinic, Firat University from June 2003 to April 2004. In all cases, a myringotomy operation (with or without placement of a ventilation tube) was carried out. The effusion samples aspirated from the middle ear were analyzed with PCR assay.


RESULTS
A total of 55 aspiration samples collected from 38 children ranging in age from 2 to 12 were included in the study. Fifteen of the subjects were girls, and 23 were boys. In 17 patients, both ears demonstrated effusions, whereas in 21 patients, only one ear had effusions. Nine (16.3%) of 55 the middle ear effusion samples were shown to be H. pylori positive by PCR.


CONCLUSIONS
H. pylori was detected in the middle ear effusion of some patients with OME. These results may have interesting implications for a possible role of H. pylori in OME. In addition, these results suggest that further studies are needed to investigate the role of H. pylori in the etiology of OME.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Firat University Medical Faculty, Elazig, Turkey. turgut_karlidag@yahoo.com
Turgut
T
Karlidag
Yasemin
Y
Bulut
Erol
E
Keles
Irfan
I
Kaygusuz
Sinasi
S
Yalcin
Aykut
A
Ozdarendeli
Hakan
H
Dabak
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
D017931:DNA Primers