Recovery From Otitis Media and Associated Factors Among 1- to 6-Year-Old Children in South India: A Longitudinal Study

Background and Objectives@#This study was aimed at assessing recovery from otitis media (OM) and variables associated with it among 1- to 6-year-old children. @*Subjects and Methods@#We assessed 87 children with OM otologically and audiologically. Medicines were prescribed, and medication compliance was ensured. The children were followed up after 3 months to judge the status of OM as resolved or recurrent. Data were statistically analyzed to derive the risk of recurrence of OM with effusion (OME) and acute OM by degree of hearing loss, type of tympanogram, age group, and sex. @*Results@#The overall recurrence rate was 26%. The risk of recurrence was higher for OME (odds ratio [OR]=4.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.90 to 9.83); at AC auditory brainstem peak V responses up to 40 dBnHL (OR=5.20; 95% CI: 2.05 to 13), 50 dBnHL (OR=3.47; 95% CI: 0.5 to 23), and 60 dBnHL (OR=16.09; 95% CI: 4.36 to 1.2); in B (OR= 3.16; 95% CI: 1.36 to 7.33) and C tympanograms (OR=2.83; 95% CI: 0.70 to 11.41); and in the age group of 5-6 years (OR=8, 95% CI: 2.23 to 28). The risk of recurrence of OM did not differ between male and female patients. @*Conclusions@#The rate of recurrence was comparable to or lower than that reported in the pediatric population of other countries. The findings suggest that children with OME, severe pathology, or age of 5-6 years require more attention and frequent monitoring to minimize the risk of recurrence.

A case of treatment-induced neuropathy in an adolescent with type 1 diabetes

Treatment-induced neuropathy (TIN) in diabetes is an acute and painful yet completely reversible small fiber neuropathy precipitated by a rapid improvement in glycemic control. TIN is rare in children. A 16-year-old girl developed symmetrical painful neuropathy of the foot, autonomic neuropathy, and retinopathy 5 weeks after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. All causative workups were negative except for a drop-in hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) from 17.4% to 7%, which fit with a diagnosis of TIN. Following symptomatic management, her neuropathy and retinopathy completely resolved in 2 months. Currently, she is 18 years old and doing well (HbA(1c), 7.4%) without any recurrence of TIN. TIN should be suspected in any child presenting with recent-onset type 1 diabetes and acute onset neuropathy. Our case represents an unreported scenario of the rapid progression in TIN. Awareness among clinicians about this rare but completely reversible condition is necessary to ensure proper management and adherence to glycemic control.