-
Viruses Nov 2022Otitis media is one of the most common diseases in children, with 80% of children experiencing it by the age of three years. Therefore, the resulting social burden is... (Review)
Review
Otitis media is one of the most common diseases in children, with 80% of children experiencing it by the age of three years. Therefore, the resulting social burden is enormous. In addition, many countries still suffer from complications due to otitis media. Meanwhile, COVID-19 has affected many diseases, with otitis media being one of the most strongly affected. This review aims to find out how COVID-19 has affected otitis media and its significance. A series of measures brought about by COVID-19, including emphasis on personal hygiene and social distancing, had many unexpected positive effects on otitis media. These can be broadly classified into four categories: first, the incidence of otitis media was drastically reduced. Second, antibiotic prescriptions for otitis media decreased. Third, the incidence of complications of otitis media was reduced. Fourth, the number of patients visiting the emergency room due to otitis media decreased. The quarantine measures put in place due to COVID-19 suppressed the onset and exacerbation of otitis media. This has great implications for the treatment and prevention of otitis media.
Topics: Child; Humans; Child, Preschool; COVID-19; Pandemics; Otitis Media; Incidence; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 36366555
DOI: 10.3390/v14112457 -
Acta Clinica Croatica Feb 2022Otitis media with effusion (OME) is amongst the most common pediatric diseases and the most common cause of hearing loss in children. It is accepted that adenoid... (Review)
Review
Otitis media with effusion (OME) is amongst the most common pediatric diseases and the most common cause of hearing loss in children. It is accepted that adenoid hypertrophy (AH) is related to OME incidence. Better understanding of the correlation between the relative size of AH and the incidence of persistent OME may provide evidence to support a more standardized approach to the diagnosis and treatment of OME. A retrospective study carried out between April 2016 and April 2018 collected data on 65 children aged 2-12 years, diagnosed with chronic OME and symptoms of AH, where conservative therapy failed. Pre-diagnostic data were collected from patient history, otoscopy, rhinoscopy, and oropharyngoscopy findings. Diagnostic workup included tympanometry, audiometry, and flexible nasal fiberoptic endoscopy. Adenoid grading was performed according to Cassano method after endoscopic visualization. Of the 65 patients, 37 were male and 28 were female. There was no statistically significant difference according to gender or average age. The highest incidence of persistent OME with AH was recorded in the youngest age groups (2-5 and 6-9 years). The most frequent AH grades were grade II (35.38%) and grade III (50.77%), yielding a statistically significant result. The most common presenting symptoms were hearing impairment, snoring, and nasal obstruction (100%, 64.62% and 60%, respectively). Higher AH grades are critical for persistence of OME and may cause conservative therapy failure.
Topics: Adenoids; Child; Child, Preschool; Endoscopy; Female; Humans; Hypertrophy; Male; Otitis Media with Effusion; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 35282481
DOI: 10.20471/acc.2021.60.03.25 -
Current Opinion in Pediatrics Feb 2015Acute otitis media occurs as a complication of viral upper respiratory tract infection. Bacterial otopathogens and respiratory viruses interact and play important roles... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Acute otitis media occurs as a complication of viral upper respiratory tract infection. Bacterial otopathogens and respiratory viruses interact and play important roles in acute otitis media development. A better understanding of viral and bacterial interactions may lead to innovative ways to lessen the burden of this common childhood disease.
RECENT FINDINGS
There has been increasing evidence that acute otitis media occurs during upper respiratory infection, even in the absence of nasopharyngeal bacterial colonization. Among the types of viruses associated with acute otitis media, respiratory syncytial virus continues to be the most commonly detected. It is still unclear whether viral load plays an important role in acute otitis media development, but symptomatic upper respiratory tract infection (as opposed to asymptomatic viral infection) is crucial. Widespread use of bacterial and viral vaccines in young children, including pneumococcal conjugate and influenza vaccines, has led to the reduction in otitis media-related healthcare use between 2001 and 2011. There has been no new vaccine against respiratory viruses other than influenza.
SUMMARY
Progress has been made toward the reduction of the burden of acute otitis media in the last decade. Success in reducing acute otitis media incidence will rely mainly on prevention of nasopharyngeal otopathogen colonization, as well as reduction in the incidence of viral upper respiratory tract infection.
Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Nasal Lavage Fluid; Nasopharyngeal Diseases; Otitis Media; Prevalence; Respiratory Tract Infections; Virus Diseases
PubMed: 25514574
DOI: 10.1097/MOP.0000000000000184 -
Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology 2022To review the evidence pertaining to the association between cow's milk protein allergy and recurrent acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
To review the evidence pertaining to the association between cow's milk protein allergy and recurrent acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion.
METHODS
The CENTRAL, Web of Science, EMBASE, MEDLINE, LILACS databases, and gray literature were searched.
RESULTS
Four studies were included, identifying the prevalence rates: 0.2% of delayed speech due to chronic otitis media with effusion in 382 children with cow's milk protein allergy, 10.7% of cow's milk protein allergy in 242 children who underwent ENT procedures, 40% of cow's milk protein allergy in 25 children with recurrent otitis media with effusion and higher tendency to otitis media in children with cow's milk protein allergy of 186 children (1.5 + 0.6 vs. 0.4 + 0.1; p < 0.1).
CONCLUSION
Considering the characteristics and methodological variations of the identified studies, it is not possible to state that there is reliable evidence of an association between cow's milk protein allergy and otitis media.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Female; Milk Hypersensitivity; Otitis Media; Otitis Media with Effusion; Prevalence
PubMed: 34716104
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.07.005 -
International Journal of Pediatric... Mar 2020To review the most recent advances in human and bacterial genomics as applied to pathogenesis and clinical management of otitis media. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To review the most recent advances in human and bacterial genomics as applied to pathogenesis and clinical management of otitis media.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed articles published since the last meeting in June 2015 up to June 2019.
REVIEW METHODS
A panel of experts in human and bacterial genomics of otitis media was formed. Each panel member reviewed the literature in their respective fields and wrote draft reviews. The reviews were shared with all panel members, and a merged draft was created. The panel met at the 20th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Otitis Media in June 2019, discussed the review and refined the content. A final draft was made, circulated, and approved by the panel members.
CONCLUSION
Trans-disciplinary approaches applying pan-omic technologies to identify human susceptibility to otitis media and to understand microbial population dynamics, patho-adaptation and virulence mechanisms are crucial to the development of novel, personalized therapeutics and prevention strategies for otitis media.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
In the future otitis media prevention strategies may be augmented by mucosal immunization, combination vaccines targeting multiple pathogens, and modulation of the middle ear microbiome. Both treatment and vaccination may be tailored to an individual's otitis media phenotype as defined by molecular profiles obtained by using rapidly developing techniques in microbial and host genomics.
Topics: Animals; Ear, Middle; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genomics; Humans; Microbiota; Otitis Media; Precision Medicine
PubMed: 32007292
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2019.109835 -
Hawai'i Journal of Health & Social... Jun 2020Both oral disease and middle ear infections are highly prevalent in Pacific Island children. These diseases are multifactorial and likely attributable in part to both...
Both oral disease and middle ear infections are highly prevalent in Pacific Island children. These diseases are multifactorial and likely attributable in part to both social and environmental factors. It has been two decades since these diseases were defined in Palau, and at the time were noted to be among the most common conditions and presented a substantial burden among Palau's children. In 2006, the Ministry of Health in Palau began conducting comprehensive school health screenings in grades 1-11. While primarily used as a referral tool, this survey can also be used in epidemiologic studies to describe health trends. The current study utilized this screening data from the 2011-12 school year to characterize the prevalence of dental caries and otitis media and explore a previously suggested relationship between the two conditions, including common risk factors. It was found that over one-quarter (28.9%) of Palauan students had abnormal tympanometry results, with up to 17% indicating active otitis media. In addition, 85% of students had at least one decayed or filled tooth, with an average of 3.9 decayed or filled teeth in 12-year-olds. Both conditions were found to be more prevalent in public than in private schools; however, the two disorders were not significantly associated with each other. These findings place the prevalence of decayed, missing, and filled teeth, and otitis media in Palauan schoolchildren among the highest reported in the world. The widely recognized consequences of poor oral health and hearing impairment on learning, nutrition, and chronic disease make urgent the need for early intervention.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Caries; Female; Food Quality; Health Policy; Humans; Male; Otitis Media; Palau; Risk Factors
PubMed: 32596676
DOI: No ID Found -
International Journal of Pediatric... Mar 2020To update the medical literature on recent large-scale studies employing bioinformatics data analysis tools in otitis media (OM) disease models with a principal focus on... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
To update the medical literature on recent large-scale studies employing bioinformatics data analysis tools in otitis media (OM) disease models with a principal focus on developments in the past 5 years.
DATA SOURCES
Pubmed indexed peer-reviewed articles.
REVIEW METHODS
Comprehensive review of the literature using the following search terms: 'genomics, inflammasome, microRNA, proteomics, transcriptome, bioinformatics' with the term 'otitis media', and 'middle ear'. Included articles published in the English language from January 1, 2015-April 1, 2019.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
Large scale bioinformatics tools over the past five years lend credence to the paradigm of innate immune response playing a critical role in host defense against bacteria contributing to Otitis Media (OM) progression from acute to chronic. In total, genomic, miRNAomic, and proteomic analyses all point to the need for a tightly regulated innate immune and inflammatory response in the middle ear. Currently, there is an urgent need for developing novel therapeutic strategies to control immunopathology and tissue damage, improve hearing and enhance host defense for both acute and chronic OM based on full understanding of the basic molecular pathogenesis of OM.
Topics: Acute Disease; Chronic Disease; Computational Biology; Disease Progression; Ear, Middle; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genomics; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Inflammasomes; MicroRNAs; Microbiota; Otitis Media; Proteomics
PubMed: 31899006
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2019.109834 -
Tropical Medicine & International... Oct 2020To describe the demographics and clinical findings in patients with otorrhoea in Angola.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the demographics and clinical findings in patients with otorrhoea in Angola.
METHODS
A total of 411 patients with otorrhoea presenting in the ear, nose and throat clinic in Luanda and healthcare centres in other Angolan provinces underwent interview and clinical examination. We describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of the patients.
RESULTS
The majority (64%) of patients were children <15 years (age ranged from 1 month to 77 years; median age 10.9 years) while 31% were children <5 years. In 83% of the patients, otorrhoea had lasted >14 days at the time of the examination indicating chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), which was confirmed with otoscopy in 72% of patients. Acute otitis media occurred in 16% of patients and was more common in children than in adults (22% vs. 10%; P = 0.007). Median duration of otorrhoea was >12 months. Earache (67%), fever (20%), dizziness (17%), nausea and/or vomiting (6%) were the main symptoms. Adult patients reported noticing hearing impairment (HI) more often than the parents of child patients (72% vs. 50%; P < 0.0001). Reported HI correlated with otorrhoea duration (P < 0.0001), presence of earache, dizziness, and measles or meningitis in history. The level of education in the family did not correlate with symptom duration.
CONCLUSIONS
Otorrhoea is mainly due to CSOM and affects patients long-term in Angola. Otorrhoea duration is the strongest predictor of HI. Education on OM and its treatment is needed to prevent HI.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Angola; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Otitis Media, Suppurative; Otoscopy; Prospective Studies; Young Adult
PubMed: 32677730
DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13466 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jan 2023Chronic otitis media (COM) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are two of the most common otolaryngological disorders. CRS and COM share pathophysiological mechanisms such... (Review)
Review
Chronic otitis media (COM) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are two of the most common otolaryngological disorders. CRS and COM share pathophysiological mechanisms such as bacterial infection, biofilm, and the persistence of the obstruction state of ventilation routes. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate all available information on the association between COM and CRS. : The protocol of this investigation was registered on PROSPERO in November 2022. Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched according to the PRISMA statement. After the application of inclusion-exclusion criteria, four manuscripts with adequate relevance to this topic were included in the review. The study population consisted of 20,867 patients with a diagnosis of CRS, of whom 991 were also diagnosed with COM (4.75%). : The included studies have shown that CRS has become significantly associated with COMas: a global inflammatory process that involves the epithelium in both the middle ear and upper airway. The identification of a relationship between CRS and COM may contribute to preventing chronic inflammatory conditions through the early management of the associated disease. Further, carefully designed studies are necessary to demonstrate the relationship between COM and CRS.
Topics: Humans; Rhinitis; Sinusitis; Otitis Media; Chronic Disease; Nose
PubMed: 36676746
DOI: 10.3390/medicina59010123 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2017Otitis media (OM) refers to inflammatory diseases of the middle ear (ME), regardless of cause or pathological mechanism. Among the molecular biological studies assessing... (Review)
Review
Otitis media (OM) refers to inflammatory diseases of the middle ear (ME), regardless of cause or pathological mechanism. Among the molecular biological studies assessing the pathology of OM are investigations of the expression of aquaporins (AQPs) in the ME and Eustachian tube (ET). To date, fifteen studies have evaluated AQPs expression in the ME and ET. Although the expression of individual AQPs varies by species and model, eleven types of AQP, AQP1 to AQP11, were found to be expressed in mammalian ME and ET. The review showed that: (1) various types of AQPs are expressed in the ME and ET; (2) AQP expression may vary by species; and (3) the distribution and levels of expression of AQPs may depend on the presence or absence of inflammation, with variations even in the same species and same tissue. Fluid accumulation in the ME and ET is a common pathological mechanism for all types of OM, causing edema in the tissue and inducing inflammation, thereby possibly involving various AQPs. The expression patterns of several AQPs, especially AQP1, 4 and 5, were found to be altered in response to inflammatory stimuli, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), suggesting that AQPs may have immunological functions in OM.
Topics: Animals; Aquaporins; Cell Membrane Permeability; Ear, Middle; Eustachian Tube; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Multigene Family; Otitis Media
PubMed: 29039751
DOI: 10.3390/ijms18102164