Middle ear effusion prevalence at time of tympanostomy before and during COVID-19 pandemic

Does social distancing impact pediatric upper airway infections? An observational controlled study and a brief literature review

“…In addition, recent studies demonstrated a decrease in Pediatric Emergency Department attendance during the Italian lockdown, which was particularly relevant when diagnoses as middle ear disease, and non-complicated middle ear infection were considered [20] . A similar decreasing incidence of otitis media with effusion during the lockdown period has also been observed by several authors worldwide in the last years [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , thus supporting the clinical influence of social distancing and a reduced school attendance especially for young children.…”

“… 6 months-12 years Group A: 1/5/19–30/6/19 Vs 1/1/2020 – Vs 29/2/2020 1/5/2020–30/6/2020 Group B: 1/6/2018–30/8/2018 Vs 1/12/2018–28/2/2019 Vs 1/5/2019–30/6/2019 OME episodes; type B tympanogram Reduction of OME; Reduction of type B tympanograms Hullegie et al, 2021 [24] Nederlands Retrospective observational cohort study. Electronic health records, GP consultation, telephone consultations ≤12 years 1/3/2019–29/2/2020 Vs 1/3/2020–28/2/2021 AOM episodes; OME episodes; Ear discharge Reduction of the AOM, OME and ear discharge episodes Nguyen et al, 2021 [22] US Retrospective ≤18 years 1/3/2019–1/7/2019 vs. 1/3/2020–1/7/2020 Intraoperative effusion in OME during tympanostomy Reduction of intraoperative ear effusion Torretta et al, 2021 [18] Italy Telephone contact Mean age 41.4 ± 14 months 9/3/2020–17/3/2020 Vs 1/2/2019–30/4/2019 AOM episodes; otorrhea episodes; systemic antibiotic treatments Reduction of AOM and otorrhea episodes, and number of antibiotic treatments Allen et al, 2022 [23] US Retrospective database review of ICD-10 codes n.a. 2019 vs. 2020 vs. 2021 AOM episodes Reduction of the OM episodes in 2020 until June 2021 Allen et al, 2022 [25] US Retrospective database review of ICD-10 codes n.a.…”

Viral infection in chronic otitis media with effusion in children

“…However, in 5/6 cases, coronaviruses were detected simultaneously with other viruses. According to Nguyen et al, bilateral MEE was diagnosed and treated more often before the SARS CoV 2 pandemic, most likely because of more frequent office visitations and shorter waiting times for surgery appointments ( 23 ). As a result, coronaviruses should not be attributed a particular role in bilateral MEE without caution at this point.…”

Detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 virus in middle ear effusions and its association with otitis media with effusion

“…In children who underwent bilateral myringotomy and tube placement during COVID, however, the incidence of intraoperative MEE was significantly lower than before COVID. 18 A study in Spain found that the total number of ENT infections did not increase in January-April 2020 compared to the same period in 2010-2019, but there was a significant increase in cases of complicated mastoiditis. 19 We believe that this is related to the pathogenic mechanism of OME and the change in COVID-19 policies and measures.…”