FREQUENCY OF OTITIS MEDIA WITH EFFUSION IN CLEFT PALATE CHILDREN

Background: Children with cleft palate oftenly present with otitis media with effusion. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of otitis media with effusion among cleft palate children. Material & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of ENT, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan from June 2017 to December 2018. Ninety patients were selected through consecutive sampling technique. All children 3-10 years of age with cleft palate were included. Patients with combined cleft palate and cleft lip were excluded. All patients underwent otoscopy and tympanometry. Type B tympanogram was considered as evidence of fluid in the middle ear. Later on patients with only Type B tympanogram underwent myringotomies. Results: Out of 90 (180 ears) patients 61 (67.78%) were males and 29 (32.22%) females. Mean age of the sample was 6.15±2.226 years (3-10, range 7 years). On otoscopic examination, 107/180 (59.45%) ears were suspected to have fluid in the middle ear. Type B tympanogram was detected in 125/180 (69.45%) ears. Only 38/90 (42.20%) patients (76/180 ears), underwent pure tone audiometry. Based on otoscopic, tympanometric and audiometric findings, myringotomies were performed in 125/180 (69.45%) ears. At myringotomy fluid was present in middle ear space of 98/180 (78.4%) ears. Out of total 180 ears the true frequency of otitis media with effusion was 98/180 (54.45%). Conclusions: The frequency of otitis media with effusion in patients with cleft palate is high. Tympanometry is fairly sensitive in diagnosing this condition in these patients.