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Otitis media: the middle ear effusion total white cell count.
The American Journal of Otology
|July 1, 1984
Summary
A high white cell count in middle ear fluid often indicates infection, particularly in young children and with purulent effusions. This finding aids in diagnosing bacterial otitis media.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Middle ear effusion (MEE) is common in otitis media.
- Understanding the cellularity of MEE can aid diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate middle ear effusion total white cell count (TWCC) with clinical and bacteriologic data.
- To assess the diagnostic value of high TWCC in identifying culture-positive MEE.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 184 MEE samples from 125 patients with various forms of otitis media.
- Classification of MEE TWCC as high, low, or acellular.
- Correlation of TWCC with patient age, MEE type, and bacterial culture results.
Main Results:
- High TWCC predominantly featured polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
- Culture-positive MEE occurred in 62.5% of cases.
- Neutrophilic-predominant high TWCC was more frequent in younger children (80% in <2 years) and purulent effusions (89%).
- High TWCC showed 83% sensitivity for predicting culture-positive MEE.
Conclusions:
- High MEE TWCC is a significant indicator of bacterial infection in otitis media.
- Age and effusion type influence the cellularity of MEE.
- High TWCC is a valuable diagnostic marker for bacterial middle ear infections.