Abstract

Background: Otitis media with effusion may run a relapsing and remitting course before ultimately resolving in later childhood. The etiological factors in adults may be idiopathic, barotraumas, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, radiotherapy, AIDS. The present study is designed to find out the prevalence of allergic rhinitis among otitis media with effusion patients attending ENT OPD in a tertiary care center.
Materials& Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study done on fifty patients with otitis media with effusion in ENT OPD at AGMC & GBP Hospital, Agartala (Tripura)during one year period. Detailed history, clinical examination in the form of ear examination with aural speculum & otoscope, tunning fork tests, anterior & posterior rhinoscopy, per oral examination were done. Medical management was given for initial 06 weeks to all OME patients, those who were not responding to medical therapy, were subjected to surgical treatment in the form of Myringotomy& Grommet insertion. Patients of allergic rhinitis were managed only medically.
Results: Children formed the majority of the study group and out of 50 patients, 22(44%) were from the age group of 6-10years; out of 50, males (35) outnumbered the females. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis among OME patients was 34%. Out of 17 allergic rhinitis patients, 11 patients (64.70%) were male & 6 patients (35.30%) were female.Out of 50 OME patients, 23 of them responded to the medication for the initial 6 weeks and 27 patients undergone surgical intervention. 18 patients (36%) had done myringotomy followed by grommet insertion whereas myringotomy alone was done on 9 patients (18%).
Conclusion: The prevalence of Allergic rhinitis among OME is very high, especially in children. Both surgical and medical management can be used in the treatment of OME, but surgical is more preferablein-patient refractory to medical treatment