Frequency of Otitis Media with Effusion in recurrent upper respiratory tract infection in children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) in children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections.


METHODS
A descriptive study.


METHODS
Combined Military Hospital, Gujranwala, from September 2003 to September 2005.


METHODS
Children of either gender suffering from more than 2 episodes of upper respiratory tract infection in the last 12 weeks were studied. The inclusion criteria were mild intermittent ear pain, fullness or "popping" of the ear drum; poor response to normal speech, inattentiveness, behavioural changes; irritability, sleep disturbances; balance problems and poor school performance. Diagnosis of OME was confirmed by pneumatic otoscopy while tuning-fork tests, tympanometry, pure tone audiometry were used as adjunct investigations. Results were described in percentage and 95% confidence interval was determined.


RESULTS
Out of the 350 referred cases, pneumatic otoscopy by otolaryngologists diagnosed OME in 147 (42%, 95% CI=37.9-47.1). Out of these, 112 (76%) had retracted tympanic membrane, 25 (17%) had bulging of tympanic membrane and 10/147 (6.08%) cases showed dullness of tympanic membrane with no additional features. Tympanometry confirmed fluid behind the tympanic membrane in 145/147 (98.6%) cases. Tuning-fork tests showed negative Rinne's test in 122 (83%). Pure tone audiometry diagnosed deafness in 138/147 (93.8%) cases.


CONCLUSIONS
OME with hearing loss is common in children having recurrent upper respiratory tract infection and nonspecific ear-related symptoms.
Raza
Maqbool
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
Jalil
Jawad
J
Shafique
Mobeen
M
Ghafoor
Tariq
T
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D038781:Otoscopy / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*