Otitis media with effusion: a possible role for Helicobacter pylori?

Abstract

To compare Helicobacter pylori prevalence rates in the nasopharynx of pediatric patients with and without otitis media with effusion (OME). Prospective, controlled. The study group consisted of patients undergoing adenoidectomy for persistent OME. A control group of patients with no history of OME undergoing adenoidectomy was simultaneously enrolled. As a substudy, middle ear effusion samples were also analyzed for Helicobacter pylori. Polymerase chain reaction assays were run by using primers against the Helicobacter pylori gene. Helicobacter pylori was detected in the adenoids of 10 of 45 study group patients, and 6 of 37 controls (P = 0.49). Thirty-two percent of middle ear aspirates were positive for Helicobacter pylori. The current study confirms the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the nasopharynx and middle ear space, but our results do not support a role for this bacterium in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion.