Middle Ear Fluid and Your Child

Keyword(s):  
2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 1593-1596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravinder Kaur ◽  
Thomas Kim ◽  
Janet R. Casey ◽  
Michael E. Pichichero

ABSTRACTThe human middle ear is devoid of any immunocompetent cells in normal mucosa. We sought to determine the source of antibody present in the middle ear of children. Total IgG, IgA, and secretory IgA antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from the nasopharyngeal, middle ear, and serum samples of children with acute otitis media. The two-dimensional gel electrophoresis pattern of the entire array of IgA antibodies in the nasal wash (NW) and middle ear fluid (MEF) was compared from the MEF and NW samples using isoelectric focusing and Western blotting. The total IgG and IgA antibodies in the MEF and NW samples of 137 children were compared. The ratio of IgG to IgA in the MEF was significantly different (P< 0.008) compared to NW because IgA levels were higher and IgG levels lower in NW. The IgG/IgA ratio of MEF resembled serum consistent with transudation to the MEF. Small amounts of secretory IgA were detected in MEF but the electrophoresis patterns of the entire array of IgA antibodies in the MEF and NW were virtually identical in each child evaluated; thus, IgA in MEF derived predominantly from serum and the nasopharynx by reflux via the Eustachian tube. The IgG/IgA antibody levels in the MEF and the same composition of IgA antibody in the MEF and NW identifies the predominant source of antibody in the MEF as a transudate of serum combined with nasal secretions refluxed from the nasopharynx in children.


1989 ◽  
Vol 98 (10) ◽  
pp. 767-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain W. S. Mair ◽  
Oddbjørn Fjermedal ◽  
Einar Laukli

A comparison has been made of air conduction threshold changes up to 1 year after myringotomy, aspiration of middle ear fluid, and insertion of ventilation tubes in ten patients with bilateral and 12 with unilateral secretory otitis media (SOM). Pure tone air conduction thresholds have been analyzed in three frequency groups: Low frequency (LF; 0.25, 0.5, and 1 kHz), high frequency (HF; 2,4, and 8 kHz), and extra-high frequency (EHF; 10, 12, 14, and 16 kHz). In the LF and HF ranges, significant improvement came during the first 24 hours after intubation, while in the EHF range, threshold lowering occurred gradually over the following 2 months. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 1189-1191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Ovnat Tamir ◽  
Yehudah Roth ◽  
Ilan Dalal ◽  
Abraham Goldfarb ◽  
Tal Marom

ABSTRACTFollowing the introduction of the 7- and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, we observed an inverse relationship between the increasing rate of immunized children and the proportion of middle ear fluid cultures collected during acute mastoiditis episodes that tested positive forStreptococcus pneumoniaeamong a subset of children 0 to 6 years old who had initially presented with severe acute otitis media and had bacterial cultures collected during tympanocentesis or from spontaneous otorrhea.


1984 ◽  
Vol 149 (3) ◽  
pp. 480-480
Author(s):  
R. Salonen ◽  
H. Sarkkinen ◽  
O. Ruuskanen

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