Throat Disorders Research Articles

The prevalence of ear, nose and throat disorders in preschool children with Down's syndrome in Glasgow

Guidelines suggest that all children with Down's syndrome have hearing testing on a regular basis. Since 2004, the ear, nose and throat (ENT), audiology and education services have conducted a joint clinic for annual ENT health and hearing surveillance of all preschool children with Down's syndrome in Greater Glasgow. The aim of this study is to report the prevalence of ENT problems in this well-defined birth cohort, and the proportion of children for whom ENT surgery is required. A prospective database has been kept since 2004, detailing the ENT health status of every child attending the community-based surveillance clinic. Between September 2004 and September 2008, 87 preschool (aged 9 months to 6 years) children with Down's syndrome were sent appointments for the clinic. Of these, 48 (55%) were female and 39 were male. Data were available for 79 (91%). Over the course of the study, 37% were listed for surgery at some point, either adenotonsillectomy for obstructive symptoms or grommet insertion for otitis media with effusion (OME). The prevalence of OME was 93% at age 1, falling to 68% by age 5. None had significant sensorineural hearing impairment. Obstructive symptoms were also common, with 79% of children having either currently symptomatic upper airways obstruction or a history of adenotonsillectomy by age 5. One child had laryngomalacia and two had symptomatic congenital subglottic stenosis. The prevalence of ENT problems in these children is high. Surgical intervention is frequently required. We advocate a proactive approach of regular ENT and audiology surveillance leading to early intervention, with the aim of maximizing health and educational achievement in the long term.

Treatment trends in allergic rhinitis and asthma: a British ENT survey

BackgroundAllergic Rhinitis is a common Ear, Nose and Throat disorder. Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis are diseases with similar underlying mechanism and pathogenesis. The aim of this survey was to highlight current treatment trends for Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma.MethodA questionnaire was emailed to all registered consultant members of the British Association of Otorhinolaryngologists - Head and Neck Surgeons regarding the management of patients with Allergic Rhinitis and related disorders.ResultsSurvey response rate was 56%. The results indicate a various approach in the investigation and management of Allergic Rhinitis compatible with recommendations from the Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma guidelines in collaboration with the World Health Organisation.ConclusionA combined management approach for patients with Allergic Rhinitis and concomitant Asthma may reduce medical treatment costs for these conditions and improve symptom control and quality of life.

Intratympanic gentamicin for Ménière's disease or syndrome

Ménière's disease is characterised by three major symptoms: vertigo, deafness and tinnitus, which may be accompanied by aural fullness, all of which are discontinuous and variable in intensity. While discontinuous, these symptoms are synchronous. Intratympanic application of gentamicin, an ototoxic aminoglycoside, is a relatively new ablative treatment for vertigo in Ménière's disease with promising results. To assess the effectiveness of intratympanic gentamicin in the treatment of vertigo in Ménière's disease. We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; ISRCTN and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 30 June 2010. All randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of intratympanic gentamicin versus placebo, or versus another treatment for Ménière's disease. Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for further information. We identified two trials, involving 50 participants, which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Both of these trials are prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised clinical trials on the effect of intratympanic gentamicin on vertigo complaints. Both of these trials found a significant reduction in vertigo complaints in the gentamicin group when compared to the placebo group. Due to clinical heterogeneity we could not perform a meta-analysis. Based on the results of the two included studies, intratympanic gentamicin seems to be an effective treatment for vertigo complaints in Ménière's disease, but carries a risk of hearing loss.

Dissection versus diathermy for tonsillectomy

This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in The Cochrane Library in Issue 4, 2001 and previously updated in 2003.Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed surgical procedure. There are several operative methods currently in use, but the superiority of one over another has not been clearly demonstrated. To compare the morbidity associated with tonsillectomy by two different techniques - dissection and diathermy. We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2010, Issue 3), PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, BIOSIS Previews, ISRCTN and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 1 October 2010, following a previous update search in 2003. Randomised controlled trials of children and adults undergoing tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy by dissection or diathermy techniques. Two review authors selected studies, extracted data and assessed risk of bias independently. Two studies (254 participants) are included in the review. The overall risk of bias in the included studies was low, although we excluded pain data from one study due to unclear risk of bias. One study compared monopolar dissection diathermy with conventional cold dissection in children and the other compared microscopic bipolar dissection with cold dissection in children and adults. These studies demonstrate reduced intraoperative bleeding, but increased pain in the diathermy group. There was no difference in the rate of secondary bleeding overall, although the power of both studies to detect a small difference was insufficient. There are insufficient data to show that one method of tonsillectomy is superior. There is evidence that pain may be greater after monopolar dissection. Large, well designed randomised controlled trials are necessary to determine the optimum method for tonsillectomy.

Cochrane review: Interventions for acute otitis externa

Cochrane review: Interventions for acute otitis externa

Hyperfractionated or accelerated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Several trials have studied the role of altered fractionation radiotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, but the effect of such treatment on survival is not clear. The aim of this individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis was to assess whether this type of radiotherapy could improve survival. We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; CENTRAL (2010, Issue 3); PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; ISRCTN and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 8 August 2010. We identified randomised trials comparing conventional radiotherapy with hyperfractionated or accelerated radiotherapy, or both, in patients with non-metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and grouped trials into three pre-specified treatment categories: hyperfractionated, accelerated and accelerated with total dose reduction. Trials were eligible if they began recruitment after 1969 and ended before 1998. We obtained updated individual patient data. Overall survival was the main outcome measure. The secondary outcome measures were local or regional control rates (or both), distant control rates and cause-specific mortality. We included 15 trials with 6515 patients. The median follow up was six years. Tumour sites were mostly oropharynx and larynx; 5221 (74%) patients had stage III-IV disease (UICC 2002). There was a significant survival benefit with altered fractionation radiotherapy, corresponding to an absolute benefit of 3.4% at five years (hazard ratio (HR) 0.92, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.97; P = 0.003). The benefit was significantly higher with hyperfractionated radiotherapy (8% at five years) than with accelerated radiotherapy (2% with accelerated fractionation without total dose reduction and 1.7% with total dose reduction at five years, P = 0.02). There was a benefit in locoregional control in favour of altered fractionation versus conventional radiotherapy (6.4% at five years; P < 0.0001), which was particularly efficient in reducing local failure, whereas the benefit on nodal control was less pronounced. The benefit was significantly higher in the youngest patients (under 50 year old) (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.94), 0.95 (95% CI 0.83 to 1.09) for 51 to 60 year olds, 0.92 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.06) for 61 to 70 year olds, and 1.08 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.30) for those over 70 years old; test for trends P = 0.007). Altered fractionation radiotherapy improves survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Comparison of the different types of altered radiotherapy suggests that hyperfractionation provides the greatest benefit. An update of this IPD meta-analysis (MARCH 2), which will increase the power of this analysis and allow for other comparisons, is currently in progress.

Ear, Nose and Throat disorders in paediatric patients at a rural hospital in India

Background There is a lack of data on paediatric otorhinolaryngology from various Indian populations. This study was undertaken to determine the hospital prevalence of ENT disorders in paediatric population and their relationship with sociodemographic factors in a rural tertiary care hospital in India. Method A record based, retrospective study conducted at Rural Medical College and Pravara Rural Hospital, Loni which provides tertiary level health care facilities in western Maharashtra, India. The entire paediatric patients reporting to the Outpatient Department of ENT (Ear Nose Throat) during the calendar year 2009 was eligible for inclusion. Results ENT diseases in our study population were found to be more common among male children (53.2%). Majority of the paediatric patients belonged to age group 5-14 years (66.3%), were from lower socioeconomic status (61.2%), living in nuclear family (71.3%) and had illiterate mothers (70.8%). Diseases of auditory system (57.3%) were the most common group of ENT problems among the paediatric population, followed by pharyngoesophageal (27.4%) and nasal (15.3%) disorders. The most common ear, nose and throat disorders were otitis media (18.25%), rhinitis (5.8%) and tonsillitis (11.7%) respectively. Conclusion The study suggests that otitis media, tonsillitis and rhinitis are the most common otorhinolaryngological problems in paediatric population visiting the ENT department of this hospital and contribute significantly to paediatric morbidity. The results from this study cannot be applied to the community as prevalence of these morbidities is likely to be even higher in the general population.

Non-voice-related throat symptoms: comparative analysis of laryngopharyngeal reflux and globus pharyngeus scales

This study calculated the comparability of two throat symptom assessment scales devised to evaluate either laryngopharyngeal reflux or globus. United Kingdom hospital out-patient departments. A total of 334 subjects, with and without throat symptoms, completed the Reflux Symptom Index and/or the Glasgow and Edinburgh Throat Scale. The following were calculated for the resultant data: Cronbach's α coefficient, principal component analysis, Kaiser normalisation, varimax and oblimin rotation, and eigenvalues. Analysis of data from the Reflux Symptom Index and the Glasgow and Edinburgh Throat Scale revealed clearly similar symptom domains regarding (1) coughing and blockage, and (2) globus or postnasal drip or throat-clearing, as did combined analysis of their amalgamated items. Both instruments had good overall internal consistency (α = 0.75 and 0.81, respectively). The 'heartburn or reflux' item in the Reflux Symptom Index mapped poorly to each underlying factor. The most commonly used laryngopharyngeal reflux and globus assessment questionnaires appear to detect very similar symptom clusters. The management of throat disorders may previously have been over-reliant on the presenting pattern of throat symptoms. Our findings indicate a need to revisit the traditional clinical classification of throat symptoms.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus

This is an update of a Cochrane Review originally published in Issue 1, 2007 of The Cochrane Library.Tinnitus is an auditory perception that can be described as the experience of sound, in the ear or in the head, in the absence of external acoustic stimulation. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) uses relaxation, cognitive restructuring of the thoughts and exposure to exacerbating situations in order to promote habituation and may benefit tinnitus patients, as may the treatment of associated psychological conditions. To assess whether CBT is effective in the management of patients suffering from tinnitus. We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; PsycINFO; ISRCTN and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 6 May 2010. Randomised controlled trials in which patients with unilateral or bilateral tinnitus as their main symptom received cognitive behavioural treatment. One review author (PMD) assessed every report identified by the search strategy. Three authors (PMD, AW and MT) assessed the methodological quality and applied inclusion/exclusion criteria. Two authors (PMD and RP) extracted data and conducted the meta-analysis. The four authors contributed to the final text of the review. Eight trials comprising 468 participants were included.For the primary outcome of subjective tinnitus loudness we found no evidence of a difference between CBT and no treatment or another intervention (yoga, education and 'minimal contact - education').In the secondary outcomes we found evidence that quality of life scores were improved in participants who had tinnitus when comparing CBT to no treatment or another intervention (education and 'minimal contact education'). We also found evidence that depression scores improved when comparing CBT to no treatment. We found no evidence of benefit in depression scores when comparing CBT to other treatments (yoga, education and 'minimal contact - education').There were no adverse/side effects reported in any trial. In six studies we found no evidence of a significant difference in the subjective loudness of tinnitus.However, we found a significant improvement in depression score (in six studies) and quality of life (decrease of global tinnitus severity) in another five studies, suggesting that CBT has a positive effect on the management of tinnitus.

Cochrane review: Allergen injection immunotherapy for seasonal allergic rhinitis

AbstractBackgroundAllergic rhinitis is the most common of the allergic diseases. Despite improved understanding of the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis and advances in its pharmacological treatment, its prevalence has increased worldwide. For patients whose symptoms remain uncontrolled despite medical treatment, allergen injection immunotherapy is advised. An allergen‐based treatment may reduce symptoms, the need for medication and modify the natural course of this disease.ObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous specific allergen immunotherapy, compared with placebo, for reducing symptoms and medication requirements in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients.Search strategyWe searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, Issue 1 2006), MEDLINE (1950 to 2006), EMBASE (1974 to 2006), Pre‐MEDLINE, KOREAMED, INDMED, LILACS, PAKMEDINET, Scisearch, mRCT and the National Research Register. The date of the last search was February 2006.Selection criteriaAll studies identified by the searches were assessed to identify randomised controlled trials involving participants with symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis and proven allergen sensitivity, treated with subcutaneous allergen specific immunotherapy or corresponding placebo.Data collection and analysisTwo independent authors identified all studies reporting double‐blind, placebo controlled randomised trials of specific immunotherapy in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis due to tree, grass or weed pollens. Two authors independently performed quality assessment of studies. Data from identified studies were abstracted onto a standard extraction sheet and subsequently entered into RevMan 4.2.8. Analysis was performed using the Standardised Mean Difference (SMD) method and a random‐effects model; P values &lt; 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The primary outcome measures were symptom scores, medication use, quality of life and adverse events.Main resultsWe retrieved 1111 publications of which 51 satisfied our inclusion criteria. In total there were 2871 participants (1645 active, 1226 placebo), each receiving on average 18 injections. Duration of immunotherapy varied from three days to three years. Symptom score data from 15 trials were suitable for meta‐analysis and showed an overall reduction in the immunotherapy group (SMD ‐0.73 (95% CI ‐0.97 to ‐0.50, P &lt; 0.00001)). Medication score data from 13 trials showed an overall reduction in the immunotherapy group (SMD of ‐0.57 (95% CI ‐0.82 to ‐0.33, p&lt;0.00001)). Clinical interpretation of the effect size is difficult. Adrenaline was given in 0.13% (19 of 14085 injections) of those on active treatment and in 0.01% (1 of 8278 injections) of the placebo group for treatment of adverse events. There were no fatalities.Authors' conclusionsThis review has shown that specific allergen injection immunotherapy in suitably selected patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis results in a significant reduction in symptom scores and medication use. Injection immunotherapy has a known and relatively low risk of severe adverse events. We found no long‐term consequences from adverse events.Plain Language SummaryImmunotherapy by allergen injections for seasonal allergic rhinitis ('hay fever')Seasonal allergic rhinitis ('hay fever') is a global health problem and its prevalence has increased considerably in the last two decades. Treatment includes allergen avoidance, drugs such as antihistamine tablets and nasal sprays, and immunotherapy (vaccination). For those patients whose symptoms remain uncontrolled despite drug treatment, specific allergen immunotherapy (SIT) is advised.Specific allergen immunotherapy is most commonly administered as subcutaneous (under the skin) injections by specialists requiring a building‐up period followed by a maintenance period of three to five years. Immunotherapy may also be delivered by the oral, nasal or sublingual route and these will be studied in separate Cochrane reviews, as will immunotherapy for perennial (all year round) allergic rhinitis. In this review we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of injection immunotherapy, compared with placebo, for reducing symptoms and the need for medication.We identified randomised, double‐blind, placebo controlled trials of specific allergen immunotherapy in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis due to tree, grass or weed pollens. Fifty‐one studies satisfied our inclusion criteria. In total there were 2871 participants (1645 in the treatment groups and 1226 in the placebo), each receiving on average 18 injections. The duration of treatment varied from three days to three years.This review has shown that injection immunotherapy in suitably selected patients with hay fever results in significant reductions in symptom scores and medication use. Injection immunotherapy has a known and relatively low risk of severe adverse events. We found no long‐term consequences from adverse events and no fatalities.

Antihistamines used in addition to topical nasal steroids for intermittent and persistent allergic rhinitis in children

Allergic rhinitis is a very common chronic illness affecting 10% to 40% of children worldwide and its prevalence among children has significantly increased over the last two decades. Prevalence and severity are related to age, with children of school age most commonly affected. To assess the effectiveness and adverse event profile of antihistamines (oral or topical) used as an adjunct to topical nasal steroids for intermittent and persistent allergic rhinitis in children. We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; mRCT and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 21 September 2009. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in children under the age of 18 with a history of allergic rhinitis, with or without allergic conjunctivitis or asthma, comparing topical nasal steroids with antihistamines to topical nasal steroids only. Two review authors independently screened studies, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. One study including 24 participants met the inclusion criteria for this review. This study compared the administration of topical nasal steroids with oral antihistamines to topical nasal steroids only in children, but it did not provide sufficient data to address the clinical question of this review. In view of the lack of evidence for the benefit or lack of benefit of antihistamine add-on therapy with topical nasal steroids for children with intermittent or persistent allergic rhinitis, it is important that clinicians are mindful of the adverse effects of antihistamines and the additional costs that may be incurred.

Surgery for tympanic membrane retraction pockets

Tympanic membrane retractions are commonly managed by ENT surgeons. There is currently no consensus as to the indications, timing and options for management of this condition. To study the effectiveness of different surgical options in the management of tympanic membrane retractions. We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, 2010 Issue 1); PubMed (1950 to 2010); EMBASE (1974 to 2010); CINAHL (1982 to 2010); BIOSIS Previews; ISI Web of Science; CAB Abstracts; LILACS; KoreaMed; IndMed; PakMediNet; China National Knowledge Infrastructure; ISCTRN; UKCRN; ICTRP and Google. The date of the search was 17 March 2010. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of the surgical management of tympanic membrane retraction pockets in adults or children. Staging of the retraction using a known system must have been performed. Studies of cholesteatoma or perforations were excluded. Two authors independently collected and analysed data to minimise the effects of selection and reporting bias. Two RCTs were included, involving 71 participants. The first study showed no statistically significant benefit of cartilage graft tympanoplasty over a watch and wait policy for either disease progression or hearing outcome. The second showed no additional benefit from the insertion of ventilation tubes over cartilage tympanoplasty alone with regards to hearing outcome. No evidence currently exists to either support or refute the role of surgery in the management of tympanic membrane retractions. Higher quality studies are much needed to ascertain this.

House dust mite avoidance measures for perennial allergic rhinitis.

This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in The Cochrane Library in Issue 4, 2001 and previously updated in 2003 and 2007.It is estimated that in developed countries approximately 30% of the general population suffer from one or more allergic disorders, of which allergic rhinitis is particularly common. Perennial rhinitis is most often due to allergy to the house dust mite. In such patients house dust mite avoidance is logical, but there is considerable uncertainty regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce dust mite exposure. To assess the benefit (and harm) of measures designed to reduce house dust mite exposure in the management of house dust mite sensitive allergic rhinitis. Our search included the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 4, 2009), MEDLINE and EMBASE. The date of the last search was 31 December 2009. Randomised controlled trials, with or without blinding, in which house dust mite control measures have been evaluated in comparison with placebo or other dust mite avoidance measures, in patients with clinician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis and confirmed allergy to dust mite. Two authors independently screened titles and abstracts, graded methodological quality using the Cochrane approach and extracted data. Meta-analysis was neither possible nor appropriate due to heterogeneity of the patient groups studied. Nine trials involving 501 participants satisfied the inclusion criteria. Only two studies investigating the effectiveness of mite impermeable bedding covers were of good quality; the remaining seven studies were small and of poor quality. Two trials investigated the efficacy of acaricides, another two trials investigated the role of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. One trial, using a factorial design, investigated the efficacy of both acaricide and house dust mite impermeable bedding covers in isolation and combination; the remaining four trials investigated the efficacy of bedroom environmental control programmes involving use of house dust mite impermeable bedding covers. Seven of the nine trials reported that, when compared with control, the interventions studied resulted in significant reductions in house dust mite load. Of the interventions studied to date, acaricides appear to be the most promising type of intervention, although the findings from these studies need to be interpreted with care because of their methodological limitations. House dust mite impermeable bedding as an isolated intervention is unlikely to offer clinical benefit. No serious adverse effects were reported from any of the interventions. Trials to date have on the whole been small and of poor methodological quality, making it difficult to offer any definitive recommendations on the role, if any, of house dust mite avoidance measures in the management of house dust mite sensitive perennial allergic rhinitis. The results of these studies suggest that use of acaricides and extensive bedroom-based environmental control programmes may be of some benefit in reducing rhinitis symptoms and, if considered appropriate, these should be the interventions of choice. Isolated use of house dust mite impermeable bedding is unlikely to prove effective.

A survey of ear, nose and throat disorders in rural India

The main aim of this survey was to assess the prevalence of common ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders in the rural India. After initial screening of the patients at the primary health center, a week long camp was organized in a district where entire population resides in the rural area and a complete ENT examination and investigation was done by the ENT specialists. A total of 950 patients were found to be suffering from the ENT ailments in the total population of thirty thousands of the district (4.31%). Out of the total of 950 patients 36.6% of patients (n = 348) had ear problems, 23.57% (n = 225) had nasal problems, while 16.58% (n = 161) of patients were suffering from the throat disorders. Among the ear patients most common diagnosis was chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) 114 and presbyacusis 83. Deviated nasal septum and sinusitis was most common diagnosis in nasal symptoms while gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) was the commonest throat problems seen in this study. Eleven patients had various benign tumors of head and neck and only one patient was found to be having oropharyngeal malignancy. The congenital head and neck lesion was seen in only four patients. In this survey 4.31% of the rural population of the district were having ENT ailments. The highest numbers rural population (35.65%) were having ear diseases. This was primarily due to low socioeconomic status and lack of awareness of the population. The nasal problem was seen in 23.57%, while throat problem was seen in 16.58%. The percentage of head neck malignancy in this survey was 0.0028.

Interventions for acute otitis externa

Acute otitis externa is an inflammatory condition of the ear canal, with or without infection. Symptoms include ear discomfort, itchiness, discharge and impaired hearing. It is also known as 'swimmer's ear' and can usually be treated successfully with a course of ear drops. To assess the effectiveness of interventions for acute otitis externa. Our search for published and unpublished trials included the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; CENTRAL; PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; mRCT and additional sources. The date of the most recent search was 6 January 2009. Randomised controlled trials evaluating ear cleaning, topical medication or systemic therapy in the treatment of acute otitis externa were eligible.We excluded complicated acute otitis externa; otitis externa secondary to otitis media or chronic suppurative otitis media; chronic otitis externa; fungal otitis externa (otomycosis); eczematous otitis externa; viral otitis externa and furunculosis. Two authors assessed eligibility and quality. Nineteen randomised controlled trials with a total of 3382 participants were included. Three meta-analyses were possible. The overall quality of studies was low.Topical antimicrobials containing steroids were significantly more effective than placebo drops: OR 11 (95% CI 2.00 to 60.57; one trial).In general, no clinically meaningful differences were noted in clinical cure rates between the various topical interventions reviewed. One notable exception involved a trial of high quality which showed that acetic acid was significantly less effective when compared with antibiotic/steroid drops in terms of cure rate at two and three weeks (OR 0.29 (95% CI 0.13 to 0.62) and OR 0.25 (95% CI 0.11 to 0.58) respectively).One trial of low quality comparing quinolone with non-quinolone antibiotics did not find any difference in clinical cure rate.No trials evaluated the effectiveness of ear cleaning.Only two trials evaluated steroid-only drops. One trial of low quality suggested no significant difference between steroid and antibiotic/steroid but did not report the magnitude or precision of the result. Another trial of moderate quality comparing an oral antihistamine with topical steroid against topical steroid alone found that cure rates in both groups were high and comparable (100% (15/15) and 94% (14/15) respectively at three weeks). There is a paucity of high quality trials evaluating interventions for acute otitis externa. The results of this systematic review are largely based on odds ratios calculated from single trials, most of which have very broad 95% confidence intervals because of small to modest sample sizes. The findings may not be wholly generalisable to primary care for a variety of reasons; only two of the 19 trials included in the review were conducted in a primary care population setting, and in 11 of the 19 trials ear cleaning formed part of the treatment (an intervention unlikely to be available in primary care). Despite these reservations, some meaningful conclusions can be drawn from the evidence available:Topical treatments alone, as distinct from systemic ones, are effective for uncomplicated acute otitis externa. In most cases the choice of topical intervention does not appear to influence the therapeutic outcome significantly. Any observed differences in efficacy were usually minor and not consistently present at each follow-up visit. Acetic acid was effective and comparable to antibiotic/steroid at week 1. However, when treatment needed to be extended beyond this point it was less effective. In addition, patient symptoms lasted two days longer in the acetic acid group compared to antibiotic/steroid.The evidence for steroid-only drops is very limited and as yet not robust enough to allow us to reach a conclusion or provide recommendations. Further investigation is needed.Given that most topical treatments are equally effective, it would appear that in most cases the preferred choice of topical treatment may be determined by other factors, such as risk of ototoxicity, risk of contact sensitivity, risk of developing resistance, availability, cost and dosing schedule. Factors such as speed of healing and pain relief are yet to be determined for many topical treatments and may also influence this decision.Patients prescribed antibiotic/steroid drops can expect their symptoms to last for approximately six days after treatment has begun. Although patients are usually treated with topical medication for seven to 10 days it is apparent that this will undertreat some patients and overtreat others. It may be more useful when prescribing ear drops to instruct patients to use them for at least a week. If they have symptoms beyond the first week they should continue the drops until their symptoms resolve (and possibly for a few days after), for a maximum of a further seven days. Patients with persisting symptoms beyond two weeks should be considered treatment failures and alternative management initiated.

Adenoidectomy for recurrent or chronic nasal symptoms in children

Adenoidectomy, surgical removal of the adenoids, is a common ENT operation worldwide in children with recurrent or chronic nasal symptoms. A systematic review on the effectiveness of adenoidectomy in this specific group has not previously been performed. To assess the effectiveness of adenoidectomy versus non-surgical management in children with recurrent or chronic nasal symptoms. We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; mRCT and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 30 March 2009. Randomised controlled trials comparing adenoidectomy, with or without tympanostomy tubes, versus non-surgical management or tympanostomy tubes alone in children with recurrent or chronic nasal symptoms. The primary outcome studied was the number of episodes, days per episode and per year with nasal symptoms and the proportion of children with recurrent episodes of nasal symptoms. Secondary outcomes were mean number of episodes, mean number of days per episode and per year, and proportion of children with nasal obstruction alone. Two authors assessed trial quality and extracted data independently. Only one study included children scheduled for adenoidectomy because of recurrent or chronic nasal symptoms or middle ear disease. In this study no beneficial effect of adenoidectomy was found. The numbers in this study were, however, small (n = 76) and the quality of the study was moderate. The outcome was improvement in episodes of common colds. The risk differences were non-significant, being 2% (95% CI -18% to 22%) and -11% (95% CI -28% to 7%) after 12 and 24 months, respectively.A second study included children with recurrent acute otitis media (n = 180). As otitis media is known to be associated with nasal symptoms, the number of days with rhinitis was studied as a secondary outcome measure. The risk difference was non-significant, being -4 days (95% CI -13 to 7 days). Current evidence regarding the effect of adenoidectomy on recurrent or chronic nasal symptoms or nasal obstruction alone is sparse, inconclusive and has a significant risk of bias.High quality trials assessing the effectiveness of adenoidectomy in children with recurrent or chronic nasal symptoms should be initiated.

Adenoidectomy for otitis media in children

Adenoidectomy, surgical removal of the adenoids, is a common ENT operation worldwide in children with otitis media. A systematic review on the effectiveness of adenoidectomy in this specific group has not previously been performed. To assess the effectiveness of adenoidectomy versus non-surgical management or tympanostomy tubes in children with otitis media. We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; mRCT and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 30 March 2009. Randomised controlled trials comparing adenoidectomy, with or without tympanostomy tubes, versus non-surgical management or tympanostomy tubes only in children with otitis media. The primary outcome studied was the proportion of time with otitis media with effusion (OME). Secondary outcomes were mean number of episodes, mean number of days per episode and per year, and proportion of children with either acute otitis media (AOM) or otitis media with effusion (OME), as well as mean hearing level. Tertiary outcome measures included atrophy of the tympanic membrane, tympanosclerosis, retraction of the pars tensa and pars flaccid and cholesteatoma. Two authors assessed trial quality and extracted data independently. Fourteen randomised controlled trials (2712 children) studying the effectiveness of adenoidectomy in children with otitis media were evaluated. Most of these trials were too heterogeneous to pool in a meta-analysis. Loss to follow up varied from 0% to 63% after two years.Adenoidectomy in combination with a unilateral tympanostomy tube has a beneficial effect on the resolution of OME (risk difference (RD) 22% (95% CI 12% to 32%) and 29% (95% CI 19% to 39%) for the non-operated ear at six and 12 months, respectively (n = 3 trials)) and a very small (< 5 dB) effect on hearing, compared to a unilateral tympanostomy tube only. The results of studies of adenoidectomy with or without myringotomy versus non-surgical treatment or myringotomy only, and those of adenoidectomy in combination with bilateral tympanostomy tubes versus bilateral tympanostomy tubes only, also showed a small beneficial effect of adenoidectomy on the resolution of the effusion. The latter results could not be pooled due to large heterogeneity of the trials.Regarding AOM, the results of none of the trials including this outcome indicate a significant beneficial effect of adenoidectomy. The trials were too heterogeneous to pool in a meta-analysis.The effects of adenoidectomy on changes of the tympanic membrane or cholesteatoma have not been studied. Our review shows a significant benefit of adenoidectomy as far as the resolution of middle ear effusion in children with OME is concerned. However, the benefit to hearing is small and the effects on changes in the tympanic membrane are unknown. The risks of operating should be weighed against these potential benefits.The absence of a significant benefit of adenoidectomy on AOM suggests that routine surgery for this indication is not warranted.

The 14-item Paediatric Throat Disorders Outcome Test: a valid, sensitive, reliable, parent-reported outcome measure for paediatric throat disorders

We modified and abbreviated a pre-existing research questionnaire, the Tonsil and Adenoid Health Status Instrument, to make it suitable for rapid completion as a disease-specific, health-related quality of life research tool for children with tonsil and adenoid disease in the UK. We determined the main psychometric properties of the resulting 14-item Paediatric Throat Disorders Outcome Test. Pre- and post-operative questionnaires were completed by the parents of children with throat disorders referred to two large hospitals. We included children with recurrent tonsillitis and with obstructive sleep apnoea. A separate cohort of healthy children of comparable age range was also studied. The test's internal consistency and responsiveness were analysed and its construct validity documented via known-group differences. A total of 126 completed questionnaires were received from the hospital referral group. The children's mean age was 6.5 years (range one to 16). The 40 unaffected children were well matched in age to the study population (mean 6.1 years, range two to 15). Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the pre-operative assessment total score was 0.84. The test-retest reliability coefficient for the total score was 0.98, indicating very high reproducibility. The 14-item Paediatric Throat Disorders Outcome Test discriminated well between children known to suffer with throat problems and a group of healthy controls (p < 0.0001; t = 24.016). Six months after surgical intervention, parentally reported questionnaire scores had improved (i.e. were lower) (p < 0.0001; t = 7.01). The standard effect size (i.e. change in mean divided by baseline standard deviation) for children for whom post-operative questionnaires were completed was 1.53; this is very large. The 14-item Paediatric Throat Disorders Outcome Test is an appropriate, disease-specific, parent-reported outcome measure for children with throat disorders, for which we have demonstrated internal consistency, reliability, responsiveness to change and two forms of construct validity.

Vasodilators and vasoactive substances for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) is sudden hearing loss where clinical assessment fails to reveal a cause. The most widely used therapeutic agents for ISSHL are antivirals, steroids, hyperbaric oxygen, vasodilators and rheological/vasoactive substances. There is currently conflicting evidence for vasodilator and vasoactive substances in the treatment of ISSHL. 1. To determine the effectiveness of vasodilators and other vasoactive substances in improving hearing in patients with ISSHL. 2. To determine the adverse effects of these medications. We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; mRCT and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 16 September 2008. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of vasodilators/vasoactive substance versus placebo in the treatment of ISSHL. Trials were assessed for methodological quality. The authors assessed trials and extracted data independently. We contacted investigators to obtain additional information where necessary. Meta-analysis was neither possible nor considered appropriate due to the differences in the type of vasodilators used, dosage and duration of treatment. The quality and the result of each study was analysed and reported individually. Only three trials, involving 189 participants, satisfied the inclusion criteria and these were of low methodological quality. One study showed a significant difference in hearing recovery in the vasodilator group (carbogen combined with a course of several other drugs) compared to the control group (a course of several other drugs alone). Another study only showed a significant improvement in higher frequencies in the vasodilator group (prostaglandin E1 + steroid) compared with the control group (placebo and steroid), no difference having been shown in overall hearing gain. In the third study the vasodilator group (naftidrofuryl and low-molecular weight dextran) showed an improvement only in lower frequencies over the control group (placebo and low-molecular weight dextran).Two of the studies reported adverse effects from vasodilator treatment, whereas there was no mention of any side effects in the third. Five patients in one study developed a sensation of heaviness in the head which settled spontaneously and did not interfere with treatment. In the other study one patient developed an allergic reaction and had to be excluded from the study. The effectiveness of vasodilators in the treatment of ISSHL remains unproven. The included studies were of relatively poor quality and the number of patients included was small. Moreover, there were differences in the type, dosage and duration of vasodilator used in each study. Due to the degree of heterogeneity the results could not be combined to reach a conclusion.

Cochrane review: Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children

AbstractBackgroundAcute suppurative otitis media is one of the most common infectious diseases in childhood. Recurrent acute otitis media is defined for the purposes of this review as either three or more acute infections of the middle ear cleft in a six‐month period, or at least four episodes in a year. Strategies for managing the condition include the assessment and modification of risk factors where possible, repeated courses of antibiotics for each new infection, antibiotic prophylaxis and the insertion of ventilation tubes (grommets).ObjectivesTo establish whether ventilation tube insertion reduces the frequency of episodes of recurrent acute otitis media and the proportion of children with symptoms of ear disease.Search strategyWe searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, Issue 1 2008), MEDLINE (1950 to 2008), EMBASE (1974 to 2008), CINAHL, mRCT (the metaRegister of Controlled Trials for ongoing/unpublished trials), NRR (National Research Register), LILACs, KoreaMed, IndMed, PakMediNet, Zetoc, ISI Proceedings and Cambridge Scientific Abstracts. Reference lists of articles retrieved from the electronic searches were scanned for further trials. Systematic reviews and other meta‐analyses were also searched for and their reference lists scanned. Contact was sought with authors of published trials and other experts in the field. The date of the last search was March 2008.Selection criteriaNo trials that included a treatment and a control group that met the inclusion criteria were excluded. Abstracts were screened and full text articles of studies that met our inclusion criteria obtained. Two authors independently applied the inclusion criteria. Studies included in the review underwent quality assessment performed independently by all authors adapting the methods outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.Data collection and analysisData were extracted independently by the authors and synthesised descriptively. Five randomised controlled trials were identified, of which two fulfilled the inclusion criteria.Main resultsTwo studies involving 148 children were included in the review. One of these studies, involving 95 children, showed that ventilation tube insertion leads to a mean reduction of 1.5 episodes of acute otitis media in the first six months after treatment. This study also showed a significant increase in the proportion of children with no episodes of AOM (p &lt; 0.001) in the ventilation tube group. The other included study also found a higher proportion of patients in the ventilation tube group had no episodes of AOM in the six months after intervention, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.16).Authors' conclusionsVentilation tubes have a significant role in maintaining a 'disease‐free' state in the first six months after insertion. Further research is required to investigate the effect beyond six months. Clinicians should consider the possible adverse effects of grommet insertion before surgery is undertaken.Plain Language SummaryGrommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in childrenAcute otitis media is a common disease of childhood, involving inflammation of the space behind the eardrum (the middle ear cleft). Episodes typically involve a fever and a build up of pus that stretches the eardrum causing severe pain. The drum may then rupture, relieving the pain, and a discharge of pus enters the ear canal. A small proportion of children suffer with recurrent acute otitis media, which is defined as either three or more acute infections of the middle ear cleft in a six‐month period, or at least four episodes in a year.One of the strategies used to treat this condition is the insertion of a miniature plastic ventilation tube (or grommet) into the eardrum, which prevents the painful accumulation of pus in the middle ear. This review aims to assess the evidence for the effectiveness of this treatment in reducing recurrent acute otitis media.We searched for scientific studies which compared treating children with recurrent acute otitis media with either grommets or a non‐surgical treatment such as antibiotics (or no treatment). In these studies, children with ventilation tubes in place were considered to have suffered an episode of acute otitis media if they had a discharge of pus from the ear.Five suitable studies were found. The studies were assessed for scientific quality, and two were found to be suitable for further analysis. The combined results from these two studies suggested that more children treated with ventilation tubes are rendered symptom free in the six months following surgery compared to those who received other treatments or no treatment. One of the 2 included studies involving 95 children showed that ventilation tubes reduce the number of episodes of acute otitis media in the first six months after surgery, by an average of 1.5 episodes per child.When considering the size of this effect, it is important to bear in mind that the studies were not perfect in their design and execution. To be confident in these findings further high‐quality research is required.