Otologic Findings Based on no Complaints in a Pediatric Examination

Abstract

Introduction the otological evaluation is highly significant in those branches of medicine in which the general evaluation of the patient is conducted by general practitioners and pediatricians.

Objectives To investigate the otologic findings and their incidences in the sample, which consisted of patients who presented to the pediatric outpatient clinic with non-otologic complaints.

Methods Patients, aged between 2 and 16 years, who had neither otorhinolaryngological complaints nor history of surgery by the otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat, ENT) department were included in the present study. The findings detected in the external auditory system and in the tympanic membranes as well as the otorhinolaryngologists' otologic examination findings of the referred patients were recorded from the files of each patient along with the applied medical and surgical treatments, and diagnostic investigations.

Results Of a total of 973 patients evaluated, 129 (13.2%) were referred to the ENT outpatient clinic due to any otologic pathology. In the otorhinolaryngological examinations, false positivity was detected in 12 (1.2%) patients, and pathological findings were detected in 117 (12%) patients who received the following diagnoses: 68 (6.9%) had otitis media with effusion(OME); 37 (3.8%) had cerumen impactions; 8 (0.8%) had acute otitis media (AOM); 2 (0.2%) had ticks in the external auditory canal; 2 (0.2%) had a retraction pocket in tympanic membrane; 1 (0.1%) had unilateral central dry perforation of the tympanic membrane; and 1(0.1%) had congenital cholesteatoma.

Conclusion Any complications and sequelae that may develop due to any pathologies and predominantly infections can be prevented by an early diagnosis, which can be made by means of a simple examination, performed merely with an otoscope. Pediatricians and general practitioners should be in close contact with otorhinolaryngologists regarding the pathologies they identify.

Keywords

otoscopy - pediatrics - otologic

Introduction

The otologic evaluation is highly significant in those branches of medicine in which the general evaluation of the patient is conducted by general practitioners and pediatricians. The otoscopic examination should become a part of the routine examination. An early diagnosis of primary infections and of any pathology during a simple examination using only an otoscope can prevent possible complications and sequelae. Besides, misdiagnoses determined by pediatricians are a clinical problem that may result in unnecessary treatment.[1] [2] Therefore, pediatricians must be in close interaction with otorhinolaryngologists regarding the methodology of the detected pathologies. Hence, it will be more convenient to manage diseases through a correct diagnosis and treatment. In addition, the branches of medicine in which the general evaluation of the patient is performed will gain experience, the percentages of correct diagnoses will rise, and unnecessary treatments will be avoided.

Objective

The aim of the present study is to assess otologic findings in pediatric patients without any ENT complaints who presented to a polyclinic for any reason.

Methods

After receiving the approval from Ethics Committee (protocol number 215), the authors signed the informed consent form and indicated that there were no conflicts of interest in the present study.

A total of 973 patients were included in the study. The ages of the patients ranged from 2 to 16 years. The patients presented to a pediatric polyclinic between June 2016 and June 2017 for any reason; however, they did not have any otorhinolaryngological complaints, and no history of otorhinolaryngological surgery. All patients were evaluated by the same pediatrician. Findings regarding the external auditory canal (EAC) and the tympanic membrane obtained during the otoscopic examination were registered from the file of each patient. Patients with any detected pathology were referred to an otorhinolaryngologist. The otoscopic findings, medical, and surgical treatments and the examinations for the diagnosis of those patients were recorded.

Patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) were submitted to a tympanogram. The measurements of the tympanometry were evaluated as type A, B and C, according to the Jerger classification system.[3]

Results

Of a total of 973 patients included in the present study, 556 (58.2%) were male, and 407 (41.8%) were female. The age of the patients ranged from 2 to 16 years, and the mean age was 8.9 years. The results of the otoscopic examination of 844 (86.8%) of the patients were normal. A total of 129 (13.2%) of them were referred to the otorhinolaryngology department due to an ear pathology ([Fig. 1]). Out of the total of 844 referred patients, 12 were observed with myringosclerosis and atrophic membrane indistinguishable from perforation, which represents a false positivity rate of 1.2% in the pediatrician's examination. Pathologic findings were detected in the otoscopic examinations of 117 (12%) patients in the post otorhinolaryngological examination ([Fig. 2]).

Fig. 1 Pediatrician's otoscopic examination findings.

Fig. 2 Patient's otoscopic findings, with true or false positivity numbers of patients who were referred from a pediatrician to an otorhinolaryngologist.

A total of 117 patients diagnosed with pathologies were evaluated. A total of 68 (6.9%) patients were diagnosed with OME, which was unilateral in 14 (20.5%) patients and bilateral in 54 (79.5%) patients. Regarding the evaluation of the tympanograms, type B was detected in 51 (75%) patients, while type C was detected in 17 (25%) patients. Cerumen impaction (25 bilateral, 12 unilateral) was detected in 37 (3.8%) patients. Acute otitis media (AOM) was diagnosed in 8 (0.8%) patients (5 unilateral, 3 bilateral). One of the patients diagnosed with AOM presented the following complaints: nausea, vomiting and discomfort while seven of them had fever. A foreign body (tick) was detected in the EACs of 2 (0.2%) patients. Unilateral central dry perforation in the tympanic membrane was observed in 1 (0.1%) patient, while retraction pockets were observed in 2 (0.2%) patients. A type C tympanogram was obtained as a result of the tympanometry test performed on the patients with retraction pockets. Congenital cholesteatoma was prediagnosed in 1 (0.1/%) patient whose computed tomography of the temporal bone (CTTB) and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests were conducted by the otorhinolaryngologist; the patient was referred to surgery, and the final diagnosis of cholesteatoma was determined as a result of the histopathological evaluation of the specimen ([Table 1]).

Table 1 All patients' pathological findings in the routine examination and rates compared to all examined patients

Pathological findings in the routine examination	Rates
OME	68 (6.9%)
Cerumen impaction	37 (3.8%)
AOM	8 (0.8%)
Foreign body (tick) in the EAC	2 (0.2%)
Retraction pocket in tympanic membrane	2 (0.2%)
Perforation of the tympanic membrane	1 (0.1%)
Congenital cholesteatoma	1 (0.1%)

Abbreviations: AOM, acute otitis media; EAC, external auditory canal; OME, otitis media with effusion.

Discussion

Additional otologic findings have been obtained, which may be significant to be diagnosed or noticed in a rate of 12% in the pediatric patient group that presented to the pediatrics department without any otorhinolaryngological complaints, but with various other complaints. The findings detected during the examination were OME, cerumen impaction, AOM, and live foreign body (tick) in the EAC. Pathologies such as congenital cholesteatoma and tympanic membrane perforation or retraction are vital issues both for a child's healthcare and for his/her speech and language development.

Otitis media with effusion is an accumulation of fluid in the middle ear without acute infection symptoms and findings. Ninety percent of the children experience at least once OME attack before school age, which is the most common reason for hearing loss in children.[4] The prevalence of OME has been found to be between 10% to 40% in several studies.[5] [6] [7] However, in the present study, it was found in 6.9% of the cases. However, none of these patients had any complaints about their ears, which we think is the reason why we found a lower result. It is significant to diagnose OME and perform a follow-up of the patients in order to prevent possible complications. Chronic otitis media, adhesive otitis media, formation of a retraction pocket and tympanosclerosis are common complications. If not treated regularly, they may cause permanent hearing loss.[8] [9] In addition, OME not treated for a long period has such risks as language and speech disorders and learning difficulties due to hearing loss in children.[7] [9] It is significant that pediatric patients should be evaluated by pediatricians for these reasons. Furthermore, it is essential to receive a reliable medical history from the caretaker, and to inform him/her about the disease and the possible sequelae.

Cerumen is secreted by the EAC for protection, lubrication and cleaning. Cerumen is removed from the EAC through a self-cleaning function. However, the accumulation of cerumen in the EAC causes cerumen impaction.[10] Cerumen impaction may result in hearing difficulty, pain and loss of balance. Sneaky hearing loss caused by cerumen impaction may bring about serious problems in children during a critical period for speech and language development.[11] As it has been observed in the present study, neither a caretaker nor a child may recognize cerumen impaction and its symptoms. We think the percentage of asymptomatic cerumen impaction is high in the present study. This may result from the fact that we have carried out the study in a region where the sociocultural level is low. However, although it seems insignificant, the detection of cerumen impaction during routine examination has serious impacts on a child's speech and language development and success at school.

Acute otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear accompanied by systemic infection findings. Earache and fever are the most encountered symptoms. However, in the hyperemia phase, which is the beginning phase of AOM, the earache has not started yet, and the fever is at a low grade. In this phase, AOM is usually diagnosed circumstantially.[12] Sometimes the hyperemia formed in the tympanic membrane, especially while a baby is crying, may result in misdiagnosis. An accurate diagnosis of AOM is significant to remove symptoms of the infection and prevent possible complications, while the detection of a misdiagnosis is important to avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics.[13] [14] All of the patients referred to us with suspicion of AOM were evaluated and diagnosed on the same day. Only one of the patients had middle ear exudate and others had only hyperemia. The patients were at the beginning phase of AOM, and only had symptoms of systemic infection. Their medical treatments were arranged and the disease was controlled without progression. It is easy to manage the disease and avoid complications thanks to an early diagnosis.

Ticks mediate as a vectors that transfer infections from various microorganisms to humans.[15] They infect humans through animal or environmental contact in rural regions. Ticks attaching inside the EAC may cause serious systematic effects, which may result in death, unlike other foreign bodies. They may bring about various symptoms, such as earache, abrasion in the skin of the EAC, sensation of ear fullness and local infection.[16] Sometimes, they do not present any symptoms.[17] Ticks were encountered in two patients during the routine ear examination without causing any symptoms. We may have encountered ticks because the region where the study was performed is rural. The patients were 11 and 13 years old. The ticks were removed with alligator forceps without any need for general anesthesia. An infection consultation was performed for both patients and they underwent a close follow-up. The follow-ups of the patients who did not present with any symptoms such as fever or muscle pain and who did not develop thrombocytopenia, leucopoenia and coagulation disorder in the laboratory assessments were finished one week later. It is critical to diagnose these patients considering both the systematic and ontological effects the ticks may cause even if they are asymptomatic.

Congenital cholesteatoma is seen as a white mass behind a normal intact tympanic membrane.[18] It is difficult to diagnose, since it is asymptomatic in the early phase.[19] It may cause irreversible damages both in hearing and in the temporal bone if the diagnosis is delayed. The fact that many children are asymptomatic and otoscopic findings are obscure makes it difficult for the doctor to diagnose.[20] The diagnosis of the 3-year-old boy in our study was performed by the pediatrician through an otoscopy. The pathological results of the patient confirmed the diagnosis. When there is a suspicion of congenital cholesteatoma, a careful otoscopic examination may bring about the diagnosis.

The tympanic membrane helps the transmission of sound to the ossicles by means of vibration.[21] If the tympanic membrane is perforated, the surface area where this transmission is allowed will be reduced. Therefore, hearing will be impacted.[22] Its retraction, which is defined as tympanic membrane retracted to middle ear may also impact the hearing function. If untreated, it can cause perforation of the tympanic membrane, damage in the ossicular chain, and cholesteatoma.[23] Both perforation of the tympanic membrane and its retraction can have serious effects on hearing and, consequently, on the mental development of children. To this end, patients must be monitored closely through hearing tests and otoscopic examinations in case they need to be submitted to surgical treatment.

In the literature review, we have not encountered any studies providing otologic findings of patients without such otorhinolaryngological complaints. Only Kocyigit et al[7] researched the incidence of OME. We have evaluated all otologic findings in the present study. The limitation of the present study can be the fact that it has been designed for children and only to evaluate otologic findings. More comprehensive data can be obtained by evaluating total ENT conditions in broader patient scales. We think different results can be achieved from studies in which a higher number of physicians and broader patient scales are included in multiple centers. In the present study, the rate of false positive diagnosis by the pediatrician was of 1.2%. But one of the limitations of the study was the inability to calculate false negative diagnostic rates. Studies in which all patients are assessed by both a pediatrician and an otorhinolaryngologist can be designed.

Conclusion

Family doctors, pediatricians and internal medicine specialists performing overall evaluations of patients should not ignore the ENT examination. As seen in the present study, pathologies that are likely to result in sequela in the future may be diagnosed through simple examination methods. Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent these sequelae. The otoscopic examination is even adequate when there are suspicions of ailments. Advanced diagnosis and treatment may avoid the formation of sequelae.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

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