Monthly and seasonal variations in vestibular neuritis.

Seasonal variations in vestibular neuritis (VN) could support the etiology of viral infection. However, several recent studies revealed no significant seasonal variations in VN. Further studies are necessary to determine the etiology of VN. We analyzed patients with VN to evaluate monthly and seasonal variations. Patients with VN who visited our otorhinolaryngology department or were referred to our department from the emergency department between March 2014 and February 2019 were included retrospectively in this study. Differences among the months and seasons of VN visits were analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to sex and age (65 years or older and younger than 65 years). Differences among the months and seasons of VN visits were analyzed between groups. There were no significant differences in monthly and seasonal distributions in 248 patients with VN. There were also no significant differences in monthly and seasonal distributions in male and female patients or in older and younger patients. There were no significant differences in monthly or seasonal distributions of patients with VN. Factors other than viruses, such as vascular ischemia, should also be considered in the incidence of VN, especially in older patients.

Risk factors for Bell's palsy based on the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort data.

The associations between hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia with Bell's palsy have been controversial and only a few studies have assessed risk factors for Bell's palsy based on population-based data. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether sociodemographic factors such as sex, age, residence, household income, and metabolic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were risk factors for Bell's palsy using the National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort data of Korea. Patients who visited an outpatient clinic twice or more or had one or more admission and received steroid medication under the International Classification of Diseases diagnostic codes for Bell's palsy from 2006 to 2015 were defined as patients with Bell's palsy in this study. The associations between sociodemographic factors and metabolic diseases to Bell's palsy were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models. There were 2708 patients with Bell's palsy recorded from 2006 to 2015. Male sex, advanced age, residence in a location other than the capital and metropolitan cities, hypertension, and diabetes were significant risk factors for Bell's palsy. This study is significant for patients and providers because we analyzed the relationships using a population-based database over a long-term follow-up period.

Neonatal and maternal risk factors for hearing loss in children based on population-based data of Korea.

OBJECTIVES: We identified the neonatal and maternal risk factors for hearing loss (HL) in children using National Health Insurance Service data of Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Service. Infants born from 2007 to 2013 were tracked to 2015. Those diagnosed with hearing disabilities or who underwent cochlear implant surgery were included in the hearing disability group. We compared the incidence of any diagnosed disability other than a hearing disability; any maternal disability at delivery; maternal age at delivery; prenatal and neonatal Toxoplasma, syphilis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex infections; craniofacial anomaly; low birth weight, hyperbilirubinemia, and bacterial meningitis; neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission for > 5 days; exchange transfusion; and ototoxic drug use (aminoglycosides or loop diuretics), between the hearing disability and control groups. RESULTS: The total number of newborns came to 3,164,825. Risk factors were sought in a hearing disability group (n = 847) compared to a control group (n = 2508). A diagnosed disability other than a hearing disability, which was commonly a brain lesion, the use of ototoxic drugs, NICU admission for >5 days, and a maternal disability at delivery, which was commonly a hearing disability, were significant neonatal and maternal risk factors for HL in children. CONCLUSIONS: Accompanying brain lesions, maternal hearing disabilities at delivery, use of ototoxic drugs during the neonatal period, and hospitalization in NICU for >5 days were significant risk factors for HL in children, as revealed by analysis of population-based data.

Schwannoma in the External Auditory Canal.

ABSTRACT: Schwannoma is a slow-growing, benign tumor originating from the Schwann cells of peripheral nerve sheaths. Schwannoma in the external auditory canal is rare but should be included in the possible diagnosis of a cystic mass. If schwannoma is suspected, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging should be performed to explore tumor size, location, possible extension, and origin before excision. The authors here present a large schwannoma that almost completely occluded the external auditory canal and was completely excised using a transcanal approach.

Monthly and seasonal variations in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

BACKGROUND: Several studies on seasonal variation in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) have been reported. However, the association between season and BPPV remains controversial; thus, further study is required. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed patients with BPPV to evaluate monthly and seasonal variations. METHODS: Patients with BPPV seen between 2013 and 2017 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Differences among the months and seasons of BPPV visits were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to age (65 years or older and younger than 65 years) and sex, respectively, and the differences were analyzed in each group. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the monthly or seasonal distribution of BPPV in the 1,216 patients. There was also no significant difference in the monthly or seasonal distribution in the older and younger groups or in male and female patients. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the monthly or seasonal distribution of patients with BPPV. Additional studies on seasonal variation in BPPV are required in terms of not only vitamin D levels but also other associated factors.

Effects of Adenoidectomy and Adenotonsillectomy on Tympanostomy Tube Reinsertion Based on Korean Population-Based National Sample Cohort Data.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the effects of adenoidectomy and adenotonsillectomy (AT) on tympanostomy tube (TT) reinsertion using population-based retrospective cohort data to confirm the association of adenoidectomy or AT with TT reinsertion reported in several previous studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used data from the National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort in Korea. We selected patients who underwent TT insertion between the ages of 0 and 9 years from 2006 to 2015. Patients were divided into the following groups: group 1, TT insertion only; group 2, TT insertion with adenoidectomy; and group 3, TT insertion with AT. The number of TT reinsertions was analyzed. RESULTS: There were 745 patients in group 1, 115 in group 2, and 251 in group 3. There were 1,019 cases of total TT insertion and 336 of reinsertion in group 1, 169 of total TT insertion and 31 of reinsertion in group 2, and 343 of total TT insertion and 50 of reinsertion in group 3. The rates of TT reinsertion were significantly lower in groups 2 and 3 than in group 1. The risks of TT reinsertion in groups 2 and 3 were significantly lower than the risk in group 1 in both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. CONCLUSION: TT reinsertion was significantly lower in the TT insertion with adenoidectomy and TT insertion with AT groups than in the TT insertion only group. We confirmed the effects of adenoidectomy and AT on reduction of the rate of repeated TT insertion by analysis of population-based data.