Ahmed Taha1, Jacob Pitaro2, Tsilia Lazarovitch2, Limor Muallem-Kalmovich2, Yael Garti2, Haim Gavriel2. 1. Department 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. 2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 70300, Zerifin, Israel.
Abstract
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.
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.