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Acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion in children with bacterial meningitis

M P Richardson1, A Reid, T J Williamson

  • 1Bath Unit for Research into Paediatrics, Department of Audiology, Royal United Hospital, UK.

The Journal of Laryngology and Otology
|January 13, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Bacterial meningitis in children did not show a link to acute otitis media or middle ear effusion. However, some children experienced temporary conductive hearing loss, which improved over time.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Otolaryngology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion (OME) are frequently observed in children with bacterial meningitis.
  • OME has been suggested as a cause of reversible hearing loss post-meningitis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence of acute otitis media and OME in children with bacterial meningitis.
  • To assess the relationship between bacterial meningitis and middle ear conditions.
  • To identify causes of hearing loss in children recovering from meningitis.

Main Methods:

  • A controlled study involving 124 children with acute bacterial meningitis.
  • Auditory brainstem responses (ABR), otoacoustic emissions, tympanometry, and otoscopy were used for assessment.
  • Age- and sex-matched controls were recruited for comparison.

Main Results:

  • No cases of acute otitis media were found in patients or controls.
  • The prevalence of middle ear effusion was similar between patients (7.2%) and controls (11.3%).
  • Five patients (4%) had conductive hearing loss at discharge, with three regaining normal hearing after nine months.

Conclusions:

  • This study found no association between bacterial meningitis and acute otitis media or OME.
  • Coincidental conductive hearing defects were identified as the cause of reversible hearing loss in some patients.
  • Findings contrast with previous reports suggesting a link between meningitis and middle ear effusion.

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