Chronic otitis media in children: an evidence-based guide for diagnosis and management

Risk Factors for Chronic and Recurrent Otitis Media in Children: A Review Article

Otitis media is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the middle ear, which includes mastoid air cells, the middle ear cavity, the Eustachian tube, and the mastoid antrum. Otitis media can be either acute, less than six weeks, or chronic, which lasts for more than six weeks. Recurrent otitis media refers to three episodes of the disease occurring within six months or four episodes within one year. There are many risk factors for otitis media among children; however, some of such factors may vary based on the type of otitis media. To highlight the risk factors of chronic and recurrent otitis media in pediatrics. Scientific databases were used to search for articles related to our objective. Various terms were used for the search process. The types of articles included in our review were original articles, review articles, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews written in the English language and concerned with our subject. The topic was discussed under four main titles; the first overviewed the prevalence and risk factors of otitis media, the second title discussed chronic otitis media and its risk factors, the third title discussed recurrent otitis media and its risk factors, and the last title discussed the risk factors of both chronic and recurrent otitis media. There are various risk factors for chronic and recurrent otitis media, and they include allergy, passive smoking, male gender, and snoring. Also, genetics may have a common role, but this needs further investigation.

The significance of selected prognostic factors in pediatric tympanoplasty

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the importance of selected prognostic factors on outcomes of tympanoplasty in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

241 children classified into three age groups (3-7, 8-12 and 13-18), had undergone tympanoplasty between 2001 and 2007 and were subsequently observed for at least 2 years. Prognostic factors were assessed with regard to their impact on the functional and anatomical outcome of the tympanoplasty defined, respectively, as postoperative air-bone gap and state of the middle ear.

RESULTS

In 85% of children, a tympanic membrane reconstruction was performed. An unchanged TM was achieved in 85% of the patients in early results and in 76% in later results. Air-bone gap closure was observed in 66% of cases. The earlier preventive retraction pocket tympanoplasty was performed, the better anatomical results were obtained-ranging from 91% in the 3-7 age group versus 75-70% in 8-12 and 13-18 age groups. The results of total or subtotal perforation reconstructions were worse than for small perforation with closure rates of 76.5% vs 94.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Age is not a factor determining the success rate in pediatric tympanoplasty. A better surgical outcome can be achieved in children with a dry ear, and better middle ear condition, because of previously performed surgeries. Preventive tympanoplasty is also advantageous. The hearing results in type 2 and 3 tympanoplasty are similar, but type 1 tympanoplasty has superior efficacy to the former two types.

Causes of Delayed Care Seeking for Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media at a Rwandan Tertiary Hospital

Background

Chronic suppurative otitis media causes serious lifelong consequences when treatment is delayed. Early detection and effective treatment result in a good outcome and possible complications are thus avoided. The aim of this study was to determine the factors resulting in delayed care seeking for treatment of CSOM.

Method and Patient

The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital in Rwanda. A questionnaire was used to collect data of patients diagnosed with CSOM who attended ENT Department during the study period. We defined delayed care seeking as seeking treatment 6 months after onset of symptoms. Data was entered and analysed using SPSS 16.0.

Result

This study enrolled 109 patients, 97 (88.9%) of whom had delays in care seeking. Majority were young adults ranging between 21 and 30 years (39.2%) while 58.8% were rural residents. Fifty-eight patients (56.9%) of those with delayed presentation used traditional medicine. The main reason for delayed care seeking was low knowledge of CSOM reported by 88 (90.7%) patients.

Conclusion

This study shows that majority of patients with delayed care seeking are young adult patients. There is low knowledge concerning this disease and this significantly contributes to delayed care seeking.

Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Bucket Handle and Cartilage Tympanoplasty Techniques for the Reconstruction of Subtotal or Anterior Tympanic Membrane Perforation

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study is to compare the clinical outcome of the two techniques of Bucket Handle Tympanoplasty and Cartilage Tympanoplasty in achieving success in graft survival as well as acceptable auditory results. 60 patients who suffered chronic otitis media with anterior perforation of the tympanic membrane were chosen. The patients were randomly assigned using Block Randomization Method of two groups including patients who underwent Bucket Handle Tympanoplasty (n = 30) or those that underwent Cartilage Tympanoplasty (n = 30). The patients were followed up for 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

The mean PTA was lower in Bucket Handle Tympanoplasty group as case group compared to Cartilage Tympanoplasty group as the control (P = 0.023). No significant statistical differences had identified passing through the time, in terms of PTA outcome (P Value = 0.547) and SRT outcome (P Value = 0.352), between Bucket Handle Tympanoplasty group and the Cartilage Tympanoplasty group. In total, postoperative tympanic membrane perforation was found in 10.0% of patients in Cartilage Tympanoplasty group and 13.3% in Bucket Handle Tympanoplasty group with no difference (P = 0.500).

CONCLUSIONS

Hearing improvements in both methods were similar.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

The trial is registered with IRCT2016022626773N1.

ACE grading-A proposed endoscopic grading system for adenoids and its clinical correlation

OBJECTIVES

To propose a novel endoscopic adenoid grading system using a rigid nasal endoscope and to study its correlation with the clinical diagnosis.

METHODOLOGY

Prerecorded video clips of rigid nasal endoscopy taken during endoscopic adenoidectomy were retrieved. Otolaryngology consultants blinded to the clinical diagnosis of the child were presented these videos and asked to grade the adenoid hypertrophy as per the proposed endoscopic ACE (Airway/Choana/Eustachian tube) grading system. The clinical diagnosis was correlated with the different aspects of the descriptive endoscopic grading system.

RESULTS

152 video clips were presented to the otolaryngology consultants for grading. The average age was 8.6 years (SD-3.48), while the male female ratio was 3:2. The A subcomponent of the ACE grading showed significant correlation with the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing and chronic adenotonsillitis, C subcomponent with sleep disordered breathing and the E subcomponent with the diagnosis of otitis media.

CONCLUSION

The proposed endoscopic grading is easily applicable and at the same time clearly describes the relation of the adenoids to the nasopharynx, choana and Eustachian tube. Different aspects of the grading system correlated differently with the clinical diagnosis emphasizing that a descriptive scoring rather than a comprehensive scoring is a more relevant clinical tool.