title: Balance and otitis media with effusion.
abstract: Dizziness can be caused by a variety of peripheral vestibular, central, and systemic disease processes. Eustachian tube dysfunction with and without middle-ear effusion has been considered one of the most common causes of balance disturbances in young children. Several studies have indicated that during an episode of otitis media the child's balance deteriorates and the child may become clumsy and fall more often. Thus, not only the adverse effect on hearing should be considered in the management of a child with otitis media, but also the child's balance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Margaretha.Casselbrant@chp.edu
authors.forename: Margaretha L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Casselbrant
authors.forename: Richard J M
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Villardo
authors.forename: Ellen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mandel
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004856:Postural Balance; D012307:Risk Factors; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests