Role of GERD in Children with Otitis Media with Effusion

To establish whether Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) plays a significant role in the etiopathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME) patients and to find if there is any association between GERD symptoms and OME. Also, to detect presence of pepsinogen in the middle ear aspirate and to demonstrate pepsinogen band by electrophoresis. This is a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital. Middle ear effusion samples were collected from 32 children undergoing surgery for OME.The samples were measured for pepsinogen level as well as total protein content. Samples were subjected to electrophoresis study by SDS PAGE (Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis). A total of 21 patients out of 32 were found to have higher pepsinogen level in their middle ear effusion samples than the cut off value of 90 mg/ml.The lack of symptoms associated with GERD among the children in this study corroborates with other similar studies in the world literature. It was also statistically shown that the association between GERD score and pepsinogen level was insignificant (P = 0.512). OME appears to be multifactorial disease.GERD may be one of the contributing factors in the etiopathogenisis of OME.