Correlation between chronic suppurative otitis media and deviated nasal septum of the ipsilateral side

Abstract

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a long standing infection of middle ear with permanent defect in tympanic membrane with or without ear discharge, frequently have an underlying nasal pathology, which can worsen the middle ear disease secondary to Eustachian tube dysfunction, leading to negative middle ear pressure, tympanic membrane retraction, chronic otitis media with effusion and/or cholesteatoma. Present study was conducted to study the correlation of a etiopathogenesis, bacteriology of CSOM with the deviation of the nasal septum (DNS) of the ipsilateral side. Methods: Study was conducted in ENT department, AJ institute of medical science, Mangalore, Karnataka. Study group included 120 patients having CSOM, selected randomly from outpatient department (Time bound cross-sectional study). Predesigned proforma was used. Detailed history taken, followed by a thorough ENT examination. Relevant investigations were performed. Results: In this study, the prevalence of nasal disease (DNS) in patients with CSOM was 73.33%. Out of 120 CSOM patients, 88 patients had co-existent nasal disease (DNS). Among the 88 cases; 71 (59.2%) patients showed direct correlation with CSOM. Culture swabs showed similar bacterial isolates in aural and nasal swabs indicating, there may be retrograde spread of pathogens from nasopharynx to middle ear via Eustachian tube. Conclusions: A significant correlation was established between CSOM and DNS of the ipsilateral side. DNS played a key role in persistence of CSOM. A conscientious evaluation of nose and paranasal sinuses diseases is essential and we thus endorse management of nasal disease prior to the surgical treatment of ear disease, for meritful postoperative results.