Otitis media is one of the most common
diseases of children and it is a leading cause
of hearing loss. The present study was
designed to evaluate the middle ear function,
and hearing affection during the acute attack
of otitis media in children, and to determine
the residual affection of treated cases of acute
otitis media on hearing and middle ear
function after periods of 10 days and 30 days
from the beginning of treatment.
Twenty children including a total of
34 ears with acute otitis media have been
evaluated clinically and audiologically at
E.N.T. Department, Benha University
Hospitals. The tests included, pure tone
audiometry, tympanometry and Eustachian
tube function tests. These previous tests were
repeated 10 days and 30 days from the
beginning of the treatment.
Assessing of audiological picture
during the acute episode of otitis media
showed that 83% had moderate C.H.L.
(Conductive hearing loss) while only 14% had
mild C.H.L. Eustachian tube functions were
poor in 80% of examined ears. While assessing
the audiological picture for these children
after 10 days of treatment showed normal
hearing in 5.9% of ears with improved ET
(Eustachian tube) functions in 44% of ears.
Follow-up of these cases of A.O.M. (acute
otitis media) after 30 days from their treatment
revealed thai 11.8% had regained normal
hearing with better ET function in 77.5% of
ears. We had concluded that although the
children clinically showed improvement after
receiving treatment for A.O.M., yet they still
suffer from several complications. Hence
children with A.O.M. had to be followed for a
long period until complete resolution of
A.O.M. and its complications. |
