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The association between Helicobacter pylori and chronic otitis media with effusion
Ahmed Taha1, Jacob Pitaro2, Tsilia Lazarovitch2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 70300, Zerifin, Israel. Ahmedtah556@gmail.com.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was not found in middle-ear fluid of children with chronic otitis media with effusion (COME). This study suggests H. pylori does not contribute to COME development in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) is a prevalent childhood condition causing hearing loss and necessitating ventilation tube (VT) insertion.
- The potential role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in COME pathogenesis remains debated due to conflicting previous study results.
- Further investigation is required to clarify the association between H. pylori and COME development in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of H. pylori in middle-ear fluid (MEF) of children diagnosed with COME.
- To compare H. pylori detection rates in MEF between children with COME and those with acute otitis media (AOM).
Main Methods:
- A comparative cross-sectional study included children aged 18 years or younger.
- The study comprised a group with COME requiring VT insertion and a control group with AOM undergoing myringotomy.
- Middle-ear fluid samples were analyzed for H. pylori using both bacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.
Main Results:
- A total of 43 children participated: 18 with COME and 25 with AOM.
- All middle-ear fluid samples tested negative for H. pylori via culture.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for H. pylori on 22 samples (12 from COME, 10 from AOM) also yielded negative results.
Conclusions:
- The findings indicate that H. pylori is not detected in the middle-ear fluid of children with COME.
- Current evidence suggests H. pylori does not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic otitis media with effusion.
- Larger-scale studies are warranted to definitively confirm or refute the involvement of H. pylori in COME development.
Purpose:
Chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) is a common condition in children and a leading cause for hearing loss and ventilation tubes (VT) insertion. Among other risk factors, it is suggested that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection may have a role in the pathogenesis of COME. Previous studies have reached different results, and therefore, there is a need for further data on the relationship between H. pylori infection and COME development in children. Our objective is to investigate the presence of H. pylori in the middle-ear fluid (MEF) from children with COME.
Methods:
A Comparative cross-sectional study. Children ≤ 18 years were included. The study group included children diagnosed with COME and required VT insertion. The control group included children with acute otitis media (AOM) who required myringotomy in the emergency room. Middle-ear fluid samples were sent for both culture and bacterial identification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.
Results:
A total of 43 children were included. Eighteen with COME (median age 4 years, IQR 3-6), and 25 with AOM (median age 1 year, IQR 1-2). All samples were cultured for H. pylori. Twenty-two samples underwent H. pylori PCR testing of them, 12 samples from children with COME, and 10 from children with AOM. All cultures and PCR tests results were negative for H. pylori.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that H. pylori does not have a role in the pathogenesis of COME. Future larger studies are needed to investigate whether H. pylori has a role in the pathogenesis of COME.
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