Giorgio Ciprandi1, Sara Torretta2,3, Gian Luigi Marseglia4, Amelia Licari4, Elena Chiappini5, Marco Benazzo6, Maria Angela Tosca7, Paola Marchisio2,8. 1. Allergy Clinic, Casa di Cura Villa Montallegro, Genoa, Italy. gio.cip@libero.it. 2. Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. 3. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 4. Pediatrics Clinic, Pediatrics Department, Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. 5. Meyer Children's University Hospital, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 6. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. 7. Pediatric Allergy Center, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy. 8. Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Otitis media (OM) is a disease with very high prevalence in infancy, substantial burden on healthcare resources, and relevant impact on the quality of life of families. The link between OM and allergy is controversial and still debated. However, a fundamental premise has to be placed before introducing this topic: there is the need to use clear and unambiguous terms. Literature abounds with misleading terms that significantly affect the methodology and consequently the outcomes. Moreover, it is essential to differentiate patients according to the OM type (i.e., acute OM, OM with effusion, and chronic suppurative OM), the allergic disease, and mainly the age. RECENT FINDINGS: There are some recent studies exploring this issue through different approaches, such as epidemiological, mechanistic, and therapeutic. To identify allergy as a pathogenic factor for OM could improve the management of OM patients. Vice versa, to suspect allergy in OM patients could be reasonable in selected patients. The current narrative review provides an overview of the evidence concerning the potential role of allergy in OM. As there are conflicting findings, a possible interpretation of pathophysiological events and a pragmatic approach are proposed.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Otitis media (OM) is a disease with very high prevalence in infancy, substantial burden on healthcare resources, and relevant impact on the quality of life of families. The link between OM and allergy is controversial and still debated. However, a fundamental premise has to be placed before introducing this topic: there is the need to use clear and unambiguous terms. Literature abounds with misleading terms that significantly affect the methodology and consequently the outcomes. Moreover, it is essential to differentiate patients according to the OM type (i.e., acute OM, OM with effusion, and chronic suppurative OM), the allergic disease, and mainly the age. RECENT FINDINGS: There are some recent studies exploring this issue through different approaches, such as epidemiological, mechanistic, and therapeutic. To identify allergy as a pathogenic factor for OM could improve the management of OM patients. Vice versa, to suspect allergy in OM patients could be reasonable in selected patients. The current narrative review provides an overview of the evidence concerning the potential role of allergy in OM. As there are conflicting findings, a possible interpretation of pathophysiological events and a pragmatic approach are proposed.
Entities:
Keywords:
Acute otitis media; Allergy; Infections; Otitis media with effusion; Risk factors; Type 2 inflammation
Authors: Elena Cantone; Stefania Gallo; Sara Torretta; Aikaterini Detoraki; Carlo Cavaliere; Claudio Di Nola; Luca Spirito; Tiziana Di Cesare; Stefano Settimi; Daniela Furno; Lorenzo Pignataro; Eugenio De Corso Journal: J Pers Med Date: 2022-06-09