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Simple procedure using a nasal balloon can help treat hearing loss in children

Date:
July 27, 2015
Source:
Canadian Medical Association Journal
Summary:
For children with a common middle-ear problem, a simple procedure with a nasal balloon can reduce the impact of hearing loss and avoid unnecessary and ineffective use of antibiotics, according to a randomized controlled trial.
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For children with a common middle-ear problem, a simple procedure with a nasal balloon can reduce the impact of hearing loss and avoid unnecessary and ineffective use of antibiotics, according to a randomized controlled trial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

It is very common for young children to develop otitis media with effusion, also known as "glue ear," in which the middle ear fills with thick fluid that can affect hearing development. There are frequently no symptoms, and parents often seek medical help only when hearing difficulties occur.

"Unfortunately, all available medical treatments for otitis media with effusion such as antibiotics, antihistamines, decongestants and intranasal steroids are ineffective and have unwanted effects, and therefore cannot be recommended," writes Dr. Ian Williamson, Primary Care and Population Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom, with coauthors.

In 2004 in the United States, there were 2.2 million diagnosed episodes of otitis media with effusion, costing an estimated $4 billion.

Researchers from the United Kingdom undertook an open randomized controlled trial to determine if autoinflation with a nasal balloon could be used on a large scale to benefit children in primary care settings. The child blows through each nostril into a nozzle to inflate the balloon. The effectiveness of this procedure has been shown only in small trials in hospitals.

This latest trial involved 320 children aged 4 to 11 years from 43 family practices in the UK who had recent histories of otitis media and effusion with confirmed fluid in one or both ears. The children were randomly assigned to either a control group that received standard care or a group that received standard care with autoinflation three times a day for 1 to 3 months. The children receiving autoinflation were more likely than those in the control group to have normal middle-ear pressure at both 1 month (47.3% and 35.6%, respectively) and 3 months (49.6% and 38.3%, respectively) and have fewer days with symptoms.

"Autoinflation is a simple, low-cost procedure that can be taught to young children in a primary care setting with a reasonable expectation of compliance," write the authors. "We have found use of autoinflation in young, school-aged children with otitis media with effusion to be feasible, safe and effective in clearing effusions, and in improving important ear symptoms, concerns and related quality of life over a 3-month watch-and-wait period."

They suggest that this treatment should be used more widely in children over age 4 to manage otitis media with effusion and help treat the associated hearing loss.

In a related commentary, Drs. Chris Del Mar and Tammy Hoffman, Centre for Research in Evidence-Based Practice, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, write "At last, there is something effective to offer children with glue ear other than surgery." Surgery to insert drainage tubes can help a select minority of children.

"Autoinflation is one of a number of effective nondrug interventions typically underrepresented in research and clinical practice," state the authors.

The authors note that there are barriers to using nondrug therapies widely in clinical practice. In the case of autoinflation, doctors need to know about the technique's effectiveness, and how it is done, and must be able to instruct patients and families in how to use it.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Canadian Medical Association Journal. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Ian Williamson, Jane Vennik, Anthony Harnden, Merryn Voysey, Rafael Perera, Sadie Kelly, Guiqing Yao, James Raftery, David Mant, Paul Little. Effect of nasal balloon autoinflation in children with otitis media with effusion in primary care: an open randomized controlled trial. CMAJ, July 2015 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.141608

Cite This Page:

Canadian Medical Association Journal. "Simple procedure using a nasal balloon can help treat hearing loss in children." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 July 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150727130808.htm>.
Canadian Medical Association Journal. (2015, July 27). Simple procedure using a nasal balloon can help treat hearing loss in children. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150727130808.htm
Canadian Medical Association Journal. "Simple procedure using a nasal balloon can help treat hearing loss in children." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150727130808.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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