Recurrent acute otitis media and gastroesophageal reflux disease in children. Is there an association?

Outcome evaluation of clarithromycin, metronidazole and lansoprazole regimens in Helicobacter pylori positive or negative children with resistant otitis media with effusion

“…Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) disease is defined as the backward flow of stomach content up to the throat. It has a wide variety of symptoms in the paediatric population, and is usually associated with many otolaryngological problems such as laryngitis, pharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, eustachian tube dysfunction, recurrent otitis media, and otitis media with effusion (OME) 1 – 6 …”

Prevalence and characteristics of gastroesophageal reflux in children with otitis media in Isfahan, Iran

“…The intermittent application of gastric contents to the middle ear mucosa which led to the Eustachian tube and mucociliary clearance dysfunctions were discussed in some studies. [ 24 25 26 ] Some clinical studies reported that GERD has been found in 55.6–64% of the children with OM, also, it is reported that OME frequency has increased in children with GER. [ 27 28 ] In the present study, children with OM were assessed to determine the prevalence of GER in these children and we found that 58% (29 of 50 children) with OM had GER.…”

“…revealed that 12.24% of children without GERD, 14.1% of children with low to moderate reflux index and 31.67% of children with severe GERD, showed episodes of RAOM. [ 25 ] In a study by Yüksel et al . like our study GERD were reported in 54,9% of studied children with OME.…”

Chronic Otitis Media in Children

“…Other contributing factors to COM include genetic predisposition; gender (male predominance); congenital midfacial anomalies; Down syndrome; cleft palate; perinatal factors (ie, precocity and lack of breastfeeding); environmental factors (more common in the winter); recurrent acute otitis media, especially when the episodes occur early in life; low socioeconomic status; smoking; allergic rhinitis; nasopharyngeal diseases (ie, adenoid hypertrophy and tumors); sinusitis; immunodeficiency (primary or acquired); barotrauma; gastroesophageal reflux; and so on. 12-16…”