Does Helicobacter pylori have role in development of otitis media with effusion?
OBJECTIVE: Recently, it was suggested that tonsil and adenoid tissues may act as a reservoir for Helicobacter pylori (HP). A connection between chronic tubotympanal disorders and gastroesophageal reflux is well recognized, but the mechanism underlying this relationship is unclear. In this study, we investigated possible presence of HP in adenoid tissue and middle ear effusions in patients with chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) and we compared the data with the results of the children who had adenoid hypertrophy without OME. METHODS: The study was comprised of 38 consecutive children with adenoid hypertrophy and/or chronic OME. The patients were divided into two groups. The first group included 18 subjects having OME+adenoid hypertrophy and the second group included 20 subjects having solely adenoid hypertrophy. Each patient underwent the appropriate surgical procedure; myringotomy, placement of tympanostomy tubes and/or adenoidectomy. After myringotomy, the middle ear effusions
