Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 60. No. 3., 2021.
Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2021.60.03.25
Adenoid Size in Children with Otitis Media with Effusion
Marta Zrinka Galić
; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Split University Hospital Centre, Split, Croatia
Marisa Klančnik
; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Split University Hospital Centre, Split, Croatia
Abstract
Otitis media with effusion (OME) is amongst the most common pediatric diseases
and the most common cause of hearing loss in children. It is accepted that adenoid hypertrophy
(AH) is related to OME incidence. Better understanding of the correlation between the relative size
of AH and the incidence of persistent OME may provide evidence to support a more standardized
approach to the diagnosis and treatment of OME. A retrospective study carried out between April
2016 and April 2018 collected data on 65 children aged 2-12 years, diagnosed with chronic OME and
symptoms of AH, where conservative therapy failed. Pre-diagnostic data were collected from patient
history, otoscopy, rhinoscopy, and oropharyngoscopy findings. Diagnostic workup included tympanometry,
audiometry, and flexible nasal fiberoptic endoscopy. Adenoid grading was performed according
to Cassano method after endoscopic visualization. Of the 65 patients, 37 were male and 28 were
female. There was no statistically significant difference according to gender or average age. The highest
incidence of persistent OME with AH was recorded in the youngest age groups (2-5 and 6-9 years).
The most frequent AH grades were grade II (35.38%) and grade III (50.77%), yielding a statistically
significant result. The most common presenting symptoms were hearing impairment, snoring, and
nasal obstruction (100%, 64.62% and 60%, respectively). Higher AH grades are critical for persistence
of OME and may cause conservative therapy failure.
Keywords
Otitis media with effusion; Adenoid hypertrophy; Nasal fiberoptic endoscopy
Hrčak ID:
271679
URI
Publication date:
1.9.2021.
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