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The microbiology of chronic middle ear effusions in children
Author(s) -
Healy Gerald B.,
Teele David W.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-197709000-00007
Subject(s) - myringotomy , middle ear , medicine , asymptomatic , serous fluid , otitis , ear canal , eustachian tube , auditory canal , incidence (geometry) , surgery , pathology , radiology , physics , optics
Serous otitis media is the most common cause of hearing loss in childhood. Traditionally, this entity has been felt to be a sterile process. This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of infected middle ear fluid in patients with asymptomatic middle ear effusions. The external auditory canal, nasopharynx and middle ear fluids of 57 patients undergoing myringotomy were cultured. Of 57 patients, 26 had positive cultures; 67% of patients less than 36 months of age had positive cultures, with a bacterial flora closely resembling that of acute otitis media. Further investigation is required to determine the significance of such infection together with the optimum therapy for chronic effusions of the middle ear in young children.