[The incidence of allergic rhinitis in children with otitis media with effusion].

OBJECTIVES

Many factors have been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME). In this study, we investigated the role of allergy and the incidence of allergic rhinitis in patients with OME.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 22 children (17 boys, 5 girls; mean age 7.8 years; range 2 to 12 years) with OME confirmed by findings of physical examination and tympanometry. Patients with high IgE levels and symptoms of allergic rhinitis were further investigated by skin prick tests and nasal smears. The results were compared with those of an age- and sex-matched control group (13 boys, 8 girls; mean age 7.8 years) with no symptoms of otolaryngological diseases.

RESULTS

Symptoms of rhinitis, serum IgE levels, prick test and nasal smear findings suggested a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in five children with OME (23%), and in one child (4.8%) in the control group. However, this difference did not reach significance (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Identification and appropriate treatment of allergic rhinitis in patients with OME may increase the success rate of OME treatment.