Otitis media with effusion with or without atopy: audiological findings on primary schoolchildren

The objective of the study was to evaluate the role of atopy in otitis media with effusion (OME) in children attending primary school, focusing on the audiometric and tympanometric measurements among atopic and nonatopic subjects suffering from OME.

Three hundred ten children (5-6 years old) were screened in Western Sicily by skin tests and divided into atopics (G1) and nonatopics (G2). The samples were evaluated for OME by pneumatic otoscopy, tympanogram, and acoustic reflex tests. The parameters considered were as follows: documented persistent middle ear effusion by otoscopic examination for a minimum of 3 months, presence of B or C tympanogram, absence of ipsilateral acoustic reflex, and a conductive hearing loss greater than 25 dB at any one of the frequencies from 250 Hz through 4 kHz.

The overall prevalence rate of OME was 12.9% (42.85% for G1 and 6.30% for G2, odds ratio = 11.16); OME was bilateral in 28 children (70%). B tympanogram was evidenced in 48 ears (70.59%), with a significative difference between G1 and G2 (P < .001). The analysis of mean air conduction pure tone (31.97 dB for G1 and 29.8 dB for G2) and of tympanometric measurements such as ear canal volume, tympanometric peak pressure, and static compliance by analysis of variance test showed a significative difference between G1 and G2 (P < .05).

The higher prevalence of OME in atopic children and the statistically significant differences in audiometric and tympanometric measurements among atopic and nonatopic subjects suffering from OME suggest the important role of allergy in the genesis and recurrence of OME.