Exudative otitis media in children: the role of prematurity and concomitant pathology in its formation. Part II

Abstract

Despite the long-term study of exudative otitis media, the disease is not well understood. The wide prevalence of exudative otitis media in children and the increase in the incidence during recent decades explain the interest of specialists in the etiology of the disease. The article presents current views on the role of premature birth, gastroesophageal reflux, systemic and local immunodeficiency, disorders in the antioxidant defense system, mucopolysaccharidosis, genetic predisposition, and other factors in otitis media development. Unfortunately, the cause of exudative otitis media cannot always be established, and it requires further experimental and clinical studies in order to develop effective approaches to etiopathogenetically justified, timely and successful treatment of the disease and its implementation in clinical medicine.