Allergic secretory otitis media: an approach to management.

An allergic etiology should always be suspected in those children having recurrent secretory otitis media. These children often have a seasonal recurrence of middle ear effusion, a history of allergic disease in infancy or early childhood, and a family history of allergy. An approach to allergic management is presented. Inhalants are tested by the serial dilution titration technique and treated at optimum dose levels. Several food tests are used to detect offending foods. They are used in progressive fashion which utilized each technique to best advantage. Fifty allergic children with recurrent secretory otitis media, despite conventional surgical therapy, were treated for inhalant and food allergy for one year. There was a significant reduction in the recurrence of secretory otitis media and need for myringotomy.