Detection of pepsinogen and Helicobacter pylori in preschool age children with secretory otitis media

Abstract

Background Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common disease among preschool children. However, its pathophysiology is not well known, and gastroesophageal reflux diseases were proposed to play a role. Aim of the work To estimate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in OME and to measure pepsin/pepsinogen levels in effusion fluid. Patients and methods A total of 60 children, 1–6 years, who presented with OME were included in the study. Myringotomy was performed in all cases with effusion in the middle ear, and a tympanostomy tube was placed for the patient. Samples were collected, and levels of pepsinogen were measured, and H. pylori was detected. Results H. pylori infection was detected in 26.7% of studied patients (16 patients). In addition, there was a statistically significant increase of pepsinogen in ear fluid aspirate when compared with serum values. There was a significant increase of adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy in positive when compared with negative H. pylori groups (100.0 vs. 75.0%, respectively), and there was a significant increase of pepsinogen in ear fluid aspirate in positive when compared with negative cases (272.75±26.42 vs. 253.59±23.49, respectively). Conclusion H. pylori was isolated from middle ear fluid aspirate in 26.7% of preschool children with OME. Gastroesophageal reflux was proposed to transmit this bacterium from the stomach through passage in Eustachian tube.

Keywords

• gastroesophageal reflux disease
• helicobacter pylori
• otitis media with effusion
• pepsinogen