Nasal mucociliary function and pH of tympanal secretions in patients with secretory otitis media

ABSTRACT

In this study, using the saccharine method, nasal mucociliary function was determined in three groups of subjects who were not suffering from any significant nasal problems Group I consisted of normal volunteers [n = 40], group II consisted of patients suffering from bilateral secretory otitis media [n = 30] and group III consisted of patients suffering from unilateral secretory otitis media [n = 10]. The mean +SD value of saccharine transport time was 17.8 + 4.5 in group I and 47.8 + 8 in group II, but in group III, there was a difference in saccharine transport time between right and left sides being slower at the side of the affected ears and normal at the side of the non affected ears. The pH of tympanal secretions in group II and III [n = 70] and that of the saliva of group I [n = 40] were done. The pH of the tympanal secretions varied from 7.3 to 8.8 with a mean of 8.2 + 0.4 and the pH of the saliva of the control persons varied from 6.2 to 8.0 with a mean of 7.0 + 0.6 with a significant difference