Abstract
ObjectiveTo evaluate the role of social isolation during the lockdown due to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) in modifying the prevalence of otitis media with effusion (OME) and the natural history of chronic OME.Study DesignRetrospective study.SettingTertiary level referral audiologic center.MethodsWe assessed the prevalence of OME among children aged 6 months to 12 years who attended the outpatient clinic for hearing or vestibular disorders during 2 periods before the lockdown, May-June 2019 (n = 350) and January-February 2020 (n = 366), and the period immediately after the lockdown, May-June 2020 (n = 216). We also compared the disease resolution rates between a subgroup of children with chronic OME (n = 30) who were diagnosed in summer 2019 and reevaluated in May-June 2020 and a similar subgroup (n = 29) assessed in 2018-2019.ResultsThe prevalence of OME in this clinic population was 40.6% in May-June 2019, 52.2% in January-February 2020, and 2.3% in May-June 2020. Children with chronic OME had a higher rate of disease resolution in May-June 2020 (93.3%) than those examined in May-June 2019 (20.7%, P < .001).ConclusionClosure of schools and the physical distancing rules were correlated with a reduction in the prevalence of OME and favored the resolution of its chronic forms among children who attended the outpatient clinic. These data could suggest that in the presence of chronic OME, keeping young children out of group care settings for a period might be beneficial to allow for OME resolution.
Highlights
Children with chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) had a higher rate of disease resolution in May-June 2020 (93.3%) than those examined in May-June 2019 (20.7%, P \.001)
In agreement with previous studies,[4,8] we found a decreasing prevalence of OME with age, reflecting the progressive maturation of the immune system and changes in the anatomic orientation, size, and shape of the eustachian tube, irrespective of the period of analysis
The drastic measures taken by the Italian government to contain the spread of COVID-19 have incidentally had a positive impact on OME, from a preventive and therapeutic point of view, among children who attended our pediatric outpatient audiology clinic
Summary
We assessed the prevalence of OME among children aged 6 months to 12 years who attended the outpatient clinic for hearing or vestibular disorders during 2 periods before the lockdown, May-June 2019 (n = 350) and January-February 2020 (n = 366), and the period immediately after the lockdown, May-June 2020 (n = 216). We compared the disease resolution rates between a subgroup of children with chronic OME (n = 30) who were diagnosed in summer 2019 and reevaluated in May-June 2020 and a similar subgroup (n = 29) assessed in 2018-2019. The present retrospective study included all children aged 6 months to 12 years who attended the pediatric outpatient audiology clinic in the Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico (Milan, Italy), as a first or follow-up visit for hearing, speech, language, or vestibular disorders. We selected a subgroup (subgroup A) that included all children with chronic OME who were
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
