[Pediatric OSAS and otitis media with effusion].

BACKGROUND

Adenotonsillar hyperplasia is considered as a possible cause for two frequent ENT disorders in children: pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and otitis media with effusion (OME). The present study analyzes whether a link between pediatric OSAS and OME can also be presumed.

METHODS

Polysomnographic data of 186 children with suspected OSAS were correlated to middle ear ventilation assessed by tympanometry. Tympanograms were classified according to Jerger.

RESULTS

In a Kruskal Wallis test, children with an apnea-hypopnea index  < 1 (exclusion of OSA by tight criteria), 1-5 or  > 5 (definitively pathological value) did not statistically significantly differ in the prevalence of normally ventilated ears and OME. Accordingly, the Mann-Whitney U test showed that children with normally ventilated ears did not have a statistically different apnea-hypopnea, apnea, hypopnea or snoring index or varying minimal oxygen saturation to children suffering from OME.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, no link was detected between pediatric OSAS and OME.