Long-Term Impact of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media on Balance and Vestibular Function in Children
Background/Objectives: Recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM) is a common disease in childhood, but its impact on the vestibular system remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of rAOM on balance and vestibular function in pediatric patients. Methods: A total...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Mirko Aldè Pietro Bosi Stefanie Muck Thomas Mayr Paola Di Mauro Valentina Berto Beatrice Gaia Aleandri Francesco Folino Stefania Barozzi Diego Zanetti Paola Marchisio |
| author_facet | Mirko Aldè Pietro Bosi Stefanie Muck Thomas Mayr Paola Di Mauro Valentina Berto Beatrice Gaia Aleandri Francesco Folino Stefania Barozzi Diego Zanetti Paola Marchisio |
| author_sort | Mirko Aldè |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM) is a common disease in childhood, but its impact on the vestibular system remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of rAOM on balance and vestibular function in pediatric patients. Methods: A total of 55 children, aged 8 years (25 males and 30 females), with a documented history of rAOM, no AOM episodes in the past year, and no previous ear surgery were assessed. Static posturography was used to assess postural instability, measuring sway area (SX, mm<sup>2</sup>) under four conditions: eyes open and eyes closed, with and without foam pads. Vestibular function was evaluated using the video head impulse test (v-HIT) to quantify vestibulo–ocular reflex (VOR) gain and corrective saccades across all six semicircular canals. Results: Children with a history of rAOM demonstrated significantly greater postural instability than healthy controls (<i>p</i> < 0.001 for all test conditions). The number of AOM episodes was the primary factor influencing balance dysfunction, with children who had more than eight episodes showing the most pronounced deficits in postural stability (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In some cases, the v-HIT revealed hypofunction in the right anterior (14.5%), left posterior (7.3%), left lateral (5.5%), left anterior (3.6%), and right posterior (3.6%) semicircular canals. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that rAOM can lead to lasting balance and vestibular dysfunction, highlighting the importance of early monitoring and potential rehabilitation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-377b6f07b8c845e58a836a34d47aaa9c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-377b6f07b8c845e58a836a34d47aaa9c2024-12-27T14:14:53ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-12-011412124610.3390/brainsci14121246Long-Term Impact of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media on Balance and Vestibular Function in ChildrenMirko Aldè0Pietro Bosi1Stefanie Muck2Thomas Mayr3Paola Di Mauro4Valentina Berto5Beatrice Gaia Aleandri6Francesco Folino7Stefania Barozzi8Diego Zanetti9Paola Marchisio10Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Health, University of Applied Sciences FH Campus Vienna, 1100 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Clinic St. Poelten, 3100 St. Poelten, AustriaDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, ENT Section, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyAudiology Unit, Department of Specialist Surgical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, ItalyBackground/Objectives: Recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM) is a common disease in childhood, but its impact on the vestibular system remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of rAOM on balance and vestibular function in pediatric patients. Methods: A total of 55 children, aged 8 years (25 males and 30 females), with a documented history of rAOM, no AOM episodes in the past year, and no previous ear surgery were assessed. Static posturography was used to assess postural instability, measuring sway area (SX, mm<sup>2</sup>) under four conditions: eyes open and eyes closed, with and without foam pads. Vestibular function was evaluated using the video head impulse test (v-HIT) to quantify vestibulo–ocular reflex (VOR) gain and corrective saccades across all six semicircular canals. Results: Children with a history of rAOM demonstrated significantly greater postural instability than healthy controls (<i>p</i> < 0.001 for all test conditions). The number of AOM episodes was the primary factor influencing balance dysfunction, with children who had more than eight episodes showing the most pronounced deficits in postural stability (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In some cases, the v-HIT revealed hypofunction in the right anterior (14.5%), left posterior (7.3%), left lateral (5.5%), left anterior (3.6%), and right posterior (3.6%) semicircular canals. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that rAOM can lead to lasting balance and vestibular dysfunction, highlighting the importance of early monitoring and potential rehabilitation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/12/1246recurrent acute otitis mediavestibular systembalance disorderschildrenposturography |
| spellingShingle | Mirko Aldè Pietro Bosi Stefanie Muck Thomas Mayr Paola Di Mauro Valentina Berto Beatrice Gaia Aleandri Francesco Folino Stefania Barozzi Diego Zanetti Paola Marchisio Long-Term Impact of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media on Balance and Vestibular Function in Children Brain Sciences recurrent acute otitis media vestibular system balance disorders children posturography |
| title | Long-Term Impact of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media on Balance and Vestibular Function in Children |
| title_full | Long-Term Impact of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media on Balance and Vestibular Function in Children |
| title_fullStr | Long-Term Impact of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media on Balance and Vestibular Function in Children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Term Impact of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media on Balance and Vestibular Function in Children |
| title_short | Long-Term Impact of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media on Balance and Vestibular Function in Children |
| title_sort | long term impact of recurrent acute otitis media on balance and vestibular function in children |
| topic | recurrent acute otitis media vestibular system balance disorders children posturography |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/12/1246 |
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