Allergy and CSOM
An association between CSOM and allergy has long been debated, and only
afew studies have been performed. Interestingly, some authors observed
elevated IgE levels in the middle ear secretions of children with CSOM,
suggesting that allergy may play a contributory role in pathogenesis of
CSOM.50
Fliss et al., in a case control study in children, observed that history
of acute and recurrent OM, parental history of chronic otitis media,
larger families, and more siblings were associated with high risk for
CSOM, whereas sex, parental age and education, allergy, sinusitis, and
recurrent URTI were not.51There is paucity of data in
literature regarding the role of allergy or atopy as a significant risk
factor for CSOM in children and it was not possible to perform a
qualitative analysis. Additional studies evaluating are strongly
required.