Functional and Morphological Correlations in Prolonged Otitis Media in Childhood

Abstract

Children with persistent OM with effusion and recurrent acute OM were examined by impedance audiometry, brainstem evoked response audiometry, registration of oto- acoustical emissions, pneumatic otoscopy, otomicroscopy, computer tomography and examination of surgical findings. Surgery consisted of modified version of tympanostomy. Otomicroscopical, cytological and histological examinations revealed the presence of morphological changes characteristic for chronic inflammation in part of recurrent and persistent OM. Duration of the process (more than 3 months) and previous treatment (physiotherapy and adenoidectomy) correlated with chronic changes in both groups.