Otitis media is one of the most common infectious diseases of the middle ear in preschool age, but its relationship with vestibular dysfunction remains controversial. The aim of the study was to carry out a comparative analysis of stabilometric indicators of preschool children with suppurative and non-suppurative otitis media. Materials and methods: 22 children with suppurative otitis media and 22 children with non-suppurative otitis media at the age from 4 to 7 years were examined by the method of static stabilometry on the device “MPFI Stabilograph 1” (LLC "ASTER IT", Kharkov, Ukraine). We took into account the indices of variation and distribution of the center of pressure, spectral and correlation indices of the stabilogram, as well as integral indices of stability (length, velocity and angle of postural oscillations) and the quality of the balance function in two sensory states (open and closed eyes), which were calculated in the software providing StabiliS. Results. In children with non-suppurative otitis media, the coordinates of the center-of-pressure corresponded (7.04 [2.16–10.09]; -1.14 [-28.90–9.11]), and with suppurative otitis media – (7.04 [3.30–16.16]; -13.72 [(-25.17)–(-10.30)]) with closed eyes. The averaged figure of the projection of the center-of-pressure in the test with eyes closed is actually represented by a circle in both groups, but with open eyes it is represented by an ellipse, which, in case of non-suppurative otitis media, is stretched along the sagittal axis, and in case of suppurative otitis media, along the frontal axis. In both sensory states, children with non-suppurative otitis media were characterized by large (p≤0.05) values of KurtosisX, Length and lower (p≤0.05) values of CC0X, Pup2Sigma compared with non-purulent otitis media. Conclusions: In preschool age, suppurative otitis media more significantly disrupts the balance function compared with non-suppurative otitis media, which was manifested by a significant decrease in the stability of the main stance and the predictability of oscillatory movements compared with non-suppurative otitis media

Nowadays otitis media still remains one of the most common diseases of the middle ear in children [1]. The interconnection between otitis media and its effect on vestibular function in children has not been thoroughly studied yet. The aim of the study is to conduct a comparative analysis of stabilometric indicators of preschool children, diagnosed with non-purulent acute otitis media, and their relatively healthy typically developed peers. Materials and methods: 22 children, diagnosed with non-purulent acute otitis media, and their 25 relatively healthy typically developed peers aged 4 to 7, have been examined on the device "MPFI Stabilograph 1" (AS-TER IT, LLC, Kharkiv, Ukraine). The research has taken into account indicators of variation and shape of pressure center distribution, spectral-correlation indicators of stabilograms, as well as integral indicators of stability (length, velocity and angle of postural oscillations) and quality of equilibrium function in two sensory states (open and closed eyes). The obtained data have been calculated in the StabiliS software. Results: In children with non-purulent otitis, the coordinates of the pressure center are (7.04 [2.16 – 10.09]; -1.14 [-28.90 - 9.11]), and in the control group – (7.04 [3.30-16.16]; -13.72 [(-25.17) – (-10.30)]) with eyes closed. The average project ion figure of the pressure center in the sample with closed eyes is actually represented by a circle (ratio of Y / X axes = 0.98 [0.88; 1.14]) in non-purulent otitis media, and in the control group - an ellipse (Y / X axis ratio) = 1.16 [1.01; 1.33]). This indicates the lack of dominance of the ankle strategy to maintain posture in non-purulent otitis in the absence of visual control, and points to the presence of hidden vestibular disorders in non-purulent acute otitis media. Conclusion: The main result of our study is the discovery of the statistically significant decrease in the stability of the main posture and predictability of oscillatory movements in preschool children with acute nonpurulent otitis media compared with the control group only in the absence of visual control, i.e. in closed eyes. Also, statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences have been found between children with acute non-purulent otitis media and control, namely the coefficient of equilibrium function only in the state with closed eyes. Decreased KFR values in children with non-purulent otitis indicate a decrease in the quality of postural control compared to control group. Given the almost asymptomatic nature of otitis media in preschool children, violations of postural control in non-purulent otitis media indicate the presence of latent vestibular disorders, which must be considered for the diagnosis and treatment of otitis media in children.

The aim of the study is to assess the vestibular function of children with acute purulent otitis media by computer static stabilometry compared with typically developed peers. Materials and methods. In the course of the study 52 children aged 4 to 7 were examined by static stabilometry on the device «MPFI Stabilograph 1» (Kharkiv, Ukraine). 22 of them were diagnosed with purulent otitis media and their 30 peers were found to be practically healthy. Indicators of variations and forms of pressure center distribution, spectral-correlation indicators of stabilograms, as well as integral indicators of stability (length, velocity and angle of postural oscillations) and quality of equilibrium function in two sensory states (open and closed eyes) calculated in StabiliS software were taken into account. Results. Purulent otitis media causes posterior displacement of absolute coordinates of the pressure center. In the state with closed eyes, children with purulent otitis differ from their healthy peers in 14 of 24 stabilometric parameters, including stabilogram length, speed, angle and amplitude of oscillations, inferior to them in the balance. Children with purulent otitis media are more sensitive to the visual canal of postural control than their peers. Involvement of visual afferents in postural control significantly improves balance in children with purulent otitis by reducing deviations, postural fluctuations, which is reflected in the probable changes of 9 out of 24 stabilometric parameters compared to control. Conclusion. In preschool age, purulent otitis media leads to latent vestibular dysfunction, which is manifested by a violation of the stability of the vertical posture with the closed eyes and is compensated by visual-vestibular-proprioceptive integration in postural control.