The role of allergy in recurrent otitis media with effusion

To compare the OME groups that improved when treated with adenoidectomy, VT and medication, and which of them recurred.

Twenty-two consecutive children with recurrent OME (11%) were selected among 200 children who had adenoidectomies and had been inserted a ventilation tube (VT) for OME. The patients were selected for allergy evaluation because of recurrent OME not responsive to medical therapy and adenoidectomy, requiring more than one myringotomy with tubes. The control group consisted of 24 healthy children that were treated with adenoidectomy and VT, and had no recurrence.

Eight (36.4%) patients had positive skin tests for inhalant and food allergens. Two subjects of the control group (8.3%) had positive skin tests for inhalant and food allergens. This was statistically significant (p:0.032). A pattern to multiple positive nasal and food reactions was shown in the study group rather than in the control subjects.

The possibility of allergy should be considered in OME cases that did not improve with drug treatment and adenoidectomy and VT insertion but recurred, and a thorough search for allergen was made for proper diagnostic and therapeutic management.