Secretory otitis media in adults

ABSTRACT

The otitis media with effusion is not very rare in adults. This study was carried out to find etiology and assess different modes of treatment of secretory otitis media in adults. It was a reterospective study carried out at Allied Hospital Faisalabad from Jan 1998 to Dec 2002. Total 20 patients 13 male [65 percent] and 7 females [35 percent] between 20 to 60 years of age. The mean age was 30 years. In 15 patients [75 percent] glue ear was bilateral and in 5 patients [25 percent] it was unilateral. Tympanometery was performed in all the 20 patients which showed type-B tympanogram in all subjects [100 percent]. The most common etiological factor was upper respiratory tract infection [61 percent]. The most common presenting symptom was conductive deafness [90 percent]. The most common sign was immobile tympanic membrane [77 percent]. The severity of the hearing loss in majority of the cases was moderate [60 percent]. The treatment modalities used in majority of patients were antibiotic [35 percent] followed by grommet insertion [30 percent]. The otitis media with effusion in adults must be properly investigated to rule out any grave pathology in nasopharynx and treated properly to avoid further complications of otitis media with effusion such as adhesions, perforation etc