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Bromelain Supplementation in the Management of Otitis Media with Effusion in Children
Francesco Martines1, Ginevra Malta2, Emanuele Cannizzaro2
1Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), Section of Audiology, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
Insights
Bromelain supplementation shows promise in reducing symptoms of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. This natural compound improved mucus secretions and auditory function, offering a potential complementary therapy for OME.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Natural Product Therapeutics
- Inflammatory Conditions
Background:
- Upper respiratory tract infections are common in young children, often leading to otitis media with effusion (OME).
- OME can cause hearing loss and is associated with Eustachian tube dysfunction.
- Natural compounds like bromelain are being explored for therapeutic benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of bromelain supplementation in managing symptoms of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children.
- To evaluate bromelain's potential as an adjuvant therapy for OME.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records from 224 children (ages 1-8) diagnosed with OME.
- Data collected from January 2022 to June 2023 at the University of Palermo's audiology department.
- Comprehensive audiological assessments were performed prior to treatment initiation.
Main Results:
- Bromelain supplementation demonstrated significant symptom improvement in OME patients after 15 and 60 days.
- Patients receiving bromelain reported reduced mucus secretions.
- Auditory function showed notable improvement in the supplemented group.
Conclusions:
- Bromelain shows potential as a natural adjuvant therapy for otitis media with effusion.
- These findings support the use of naturally occurring compounds in pediatric ear infections.
- Further research into bromelain's role in OME management is warranted.
Background/Objectives:
The respiratory system is prone to infectious diseases, especially in children below five years of age. Upper respiratory tract infections in children are often associated with Eustachian tube dysfunction and complicated by otitis media with effusion (OME), an inflammatory process within the middle ear, which can lead to hearing loss. Treatment for these infections involves a combination of medication and symptom relief, depending on the severity and cause of the infection. In recent years, natural therapeutic drugs derived from herbal medicines have been gaining popularity in treating various pathologies. Bromelain, one of the most studied natural compounds, has been investigated extensively due to its numerous pharmacological properties, offering a potential new avenue for treatment. Based on these promising findings, our study was designed to examine the efficacy of supplementation with bromelain in countering symptoms associated with OME.
Methods:
This study was conducted on data acquired from medical records from the Section of Audiology of the University of Palermo, focusing on the period of January 2022 to June 2023 and selecting 224 children (age range 1-8 years), namely 174 males and 50 females, who were evaluated for presumed OME at the audiology pediatric ambulatory. All patients selected before initiating pharmacological treatment underwent thorough screening regarding the functionality of the tympanic cavities, otoacoustic emissions, the auditory threshold, and the ear canal's integrity.
Results:
The preliminary findings of this study are significant, demonstrating that supplementation with bromelain led to notable improvements in the symptoms accompanying OME after 15 days and 60 days of therapy. Notably, patients who received the bromelain supplement reported reduced mucus secretions and improved auditory function.
Conclusions:
These results underscore the potential of naturally occurring compounds as adjuvants to standard therapeutic strategies in treating OME.
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