Pharyngeal reflux in children with chronic otitis media with effusion

Objective - To investigate whether there is an association between chronic otitis media (COM) with effusion and pharyngeal reflux in children by using 24-h pH monitoring with a dual probe. Material and Methods - This was a prospective study. The study group consisted of 25 children with COM with effusion and the control group comprised 12 healthy children. All children underwent 24-h esophageal pH monitoring with a dual probe ( distal and proximal esophageal pH monitoring). Results - In the study group, the frequencies of pharyngeal and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) were 48% and 64%, respectively, and the corresponding values in the control group were 8.3% and 25%. Both of these differences were significant (p< 0.05). In the study group, 28% of patients were positive for at least 1 symptom of GER; 72% of the patients did not have any symptoms but 56% of these patients had silent GER. Conclusions - These findings indicate that pharyngeal reflux may play an important role in the etiology of COM with effusion. If patients have typical symptoms of GER, such as pyrosis, regurgitation, dysphagia and emesis, the presence of GER should be considered. The presence of silent GER and pharyngeal reflux should also be considered.