Chronic suppurative otitis media and immunocompromised status in paediatric patients.

INTRODUCTION: The role of immunodeficiency in the development of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), especially in paediatric populations, have yet to be fully elucidated. The purposesof this study is to investigate the association between immunocompromised status and CSOM among paediatric population in a tertiary hospital in Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed by retrieving medical records of paediatric patients, with and without CSOM (age 0-18 years), visiting otorhinolaryngology (ENT-HNS) outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital in Indonesia (2018-2020). We collected data on comorbidities causing immunosuppression such as HIV status, tuberculosis, and cancer. RESULTS: Among the 1018 included patients (50 immunocompromised children), HIV infection was the most common cause of immunodeficiency in the CSOM group (24 patients, 60%), and cancer in the non-CSOM group (10 patients, 100%). We found a significant association between immunocompromised hosts and CSOM (odds ratio 19.5 [95% confidence interval: 9.5-39.9], p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Immunocompromised children with HIV, tuberculosis, or cancer may be more vulnerable to CSOM. Further research is required to explore the association between other immunocompromised conditions and CSOM in paediatric populations.

Brain evoked response audiometry recording from the mastoid and earlobe electrodes in normal-hearing children.

BACKGROUND: Electrode placement plays an important role in Brain Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA) recording. It is important to measure wave latency and amplitude accurately in determining hearing level. Young children usually have limited mastoid area, and in certain condition, it is often difficult to place the vibrator and electrodes coinciding on the mastoid. Therefore, earlobe electrode is considered as an alternative placement. PURPOSE: The aim was to correlate the wave V latency and amplitude on the mastoid and earlobe electrodes in BERA recording. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was a cross-sectional study conducted at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia, between November 2020 and November 2021. Our subjects were infants and young children with normal hearing who underwent BERA examination. Electrodes were used to record BERA, and the electrodes were placed over the earlobes and mastoid area. Clicks at 20, 40, and 60 dB and tone burst at 500 Hz were used as stimuli for both ears. RESULT: Fifty subjects (100 ears) were included in the study. Our statistical analysis showed that there was a strong correlation between wave V latencies from mastoid and earlobe electrode. Moderate correlation was also found in wave V amplitude between both electrodes. CONCLUSION: Our study has demonstrated that placing electrodes on the earlobe area is reliable, particularly in certain condition when placing the electrodes on the mastoid area is not possible.