Chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tracts and the organ of hearing in population of the Central Federal Territory

The analysis of the occurrence of chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tracts (URT) and the organ of hearing (OH) among population of three regions of the Central Federal Territory with a total population of more than 3.5 million people showed predominant prevalence of OH affection -- 59.0 cases per thousand population. Most common URT diseases are represented by chronic pharyngitis (22.5/1000), chronic tonsillitis (15.9/1000) and chronic rhinitis (13.2/1000). OH diseases in children account for 11.5% of chronic diseases of URT and OH, URT chronic diseases made up 79.1%. In adults it was 36,3 and 58.5%, respectively. In retired persons OH diseases were prevalent -- 67.4%.     

The influence of upper respiratory tract inflammation upon tubal function

Eustachian tube function was examined in four patients (four ears) with a traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane when they suffered from an upper respiratory tract (URT) infection or seasonal nasal allergy and after they had recovered. Although the tubal opening pressure did not show a distinct difference on the two occasions, the active ventilatory function was apparently impaired during the upper respiratory tract inflammation; particularly the negative middle ear pressure equalizing function, and was still impaired 2-3 weeks later after recovery from the upper respiratory tract inflammation. It is concluded that URT inflammation can affect tubal ventilatory function even in normal individuals.     

Current management of upper respiratory tract and head and neck infections

The objective of this study is to present the antimicrobial management modalities of treating upper respiratory tract (URT) and head and neck infections. This article discusses the current antimicrobial treatment strategies of URT and head and neck infections. The increasing antimicrobial resistance of many bacterial pathogens has made the treatment of URT and head and neck infections more difficult. This review summarizes the aerobic and anaerobic microbiology and antimicrobials therapy of acute and chronic URT and head and neck infections. These infections include dental (gingivitis, periodontitis, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, and periodontal abscess), acute and chronic otitis media, mastoiditis and sinusitis, pharyngo-tonsillitis, peritonsillar, retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses, suppurative thyroiditis, cervical lymphadenitis, parotitis, siliadenitis, and deep neck infections including Lemierre syndrome. In conclusion, the proper management of these infections requires an accurate clinical and bacteriological diagnosis.     

Infections of the nose and paranasal sinuses in adult patients with immunodeficiency

Twenty-two patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and 18 patients with selective IgA deficiency were examined with respect to previous and present infections of the upper respiratory tract (URT), especially of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Recurrent acute rhinosinusitis was common in both groups of patients, but the development of chronic rhinosinusitis was only found in patients with CVID, indicating the more severe nature of this condition compared with selective IgA deficiency. The infections of the URT occurred several years before the appearance of lower respiratory tract (LRT) infections. Once the infections of the LRT had started, the patients had a tendency to neglect the symptoms from the URT. Early detection of antibody deficiency syndromes is of vital importance for prevention of repeated and chronic infections often causing tissue damage in the respiratory tract.     

Otogenic and rhinogenic brain abscesses in children

Otogenic and rhinogenic abscesses of the brain in children (25 cases) constitute 4.4% of neurosurgical pathologies and 26.9% of all brain abscesses in children. Rhinogenic abscesses (10 cases) were located in the frontal lobes and otogenic abscesses (15 cases) were found supra- or subtentorially. It is difficult to diagnose brain abscesses in children. In this respect computer tomography is very valuable. All the above patients underwent surgical intervention, which included such methods as aspiration, drainage and block removal. The lethality rate was 36%, although during the last 5 years (9 cases) no lethal cases were recorded.     

A variant of laryngomalacia in the neurologically normal older child

Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of stridor in infancy. It is generally considered to be a fairly benign condition necessitating surgical intervention in relatively few cases. It resolves by the age of 4 years in the majority of children. We present three cases in which laryngomalacia persisted and actually worsened in later childhood and postulate a possible mechanism for this.     

双梭形切口手术治疗儿童感染期先天性耳前瘘管

目的 探讨双梭形切口手术治疗儿童感染期先天性耳前瘘管的疗效。方法 回顾性分析2017年6月—2019年6月复旦大学附属儿科医院厦门分院收治的85例（85耳）先天性耳前瘘管感染期采用双梭形切口手术治疗患儿的临床资料,观察术后疗效。结果 85例患儿均顺利完成手术,术后7～10 d,83例（83耳）一期愈合,2例二期愈合。所有患儿皮肤表面手术瘢痕均不明显,无耳廓软骨膜炎等并发症,耳廓形态无明显变化,切口愈合达美容缝合效果。术后随访6个月至2年,均无复发,治愈率100%。结论 先天性耳前瘘管感染期行双梭形切口手术治疗,方法简便,兼顾美容效果,创伤小,恢复快,术后效果满意,临床可推广应用。     

Congenital cerebrospinal fluid pressure labyrinth]

The audiograms and CT scans of three children with a bilateral congenital mixed deafness are presented. Two children underwent an exploratory tympanotomy revealing a fixed stapes footplate: a perilymph gusher arose during platinotomy in both cases. The gusher was controlled successfully with a large fat graft in both children, and hearing remained unchanged. Two of the children were brothers: they had no other deformities except an enlarged fundus of the auditory canal on CT scans, and no clearly defined bony barrier to the vestibule, suggesting a cerebrospinal fluid fistula. Neither a patent nor an abnormal cochlear aqueduct could be detected in all three cases. It is likely that the three patients present an X-linked mixed deafness syndrome with fixation of the stapedial foot plate and perilymph gusher. A classification of congenital perilymph-CSF shunts is proposed.     

Limits of the study of early auditory brainstem responses in the diagnoses of childhood deafness

The author presents the results of his experience concerning brain stem evoked response in children. 122 cases are put forth. It shows that although behavioral audiometry is impossible in 7% of the cases, the BERA (Brain stem Evoked Response Audiology) is not reliable in 26.5% of the treble frequencies and 36% of the bass frequencies. Thus, it is not possible to equip children with hearing aids based on this given alone.     

Tissue-integrated implants in children.

The aim of this study is to present our clinical experience with tissue-integrated extra-oral implants in children. Thirty consecutive cases of children with a total of 59 standard titanium fixtures inserted in the temporal bones and used as bone-anchorage for auricular epistheses (14 cases) and hearing aids (16 cases) were studied. The surgical procedure is performed in two steps and involves an extremely gentle handling of the soft tissue and bone. The patients were followed with regular check-ups for an average of 40 months after hearing aid/prosthesis fitting. The fixture survival rate was 96.6% for the whole group. The hearing aids had a reaction-free skin penetration in 91.67% of the postoperative observations and the prostheses had a reaction-free skin penetration in 75.00% of the postoperative observations. It is concluded that the use of 'osseointegrated', implants in carefully selected cases, in children, appears to be a reliable method for bone anchorage of epistheses and bone conduction hearing aids. A close follow-up and control of this patient category is especially important with respect to the long-term results.     

Die kindliche obstruktive Schlafapnoe

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disease in children. It is defined by the onset of snoring, hypopneas or apneas with impaired sleep and daytime function. Obstruction of the upper airway during sleep is the underlying pathogenetic mechanism. It is caused either by an anatomic obstruction, increased airway collapsibility or both. Normally OSA in children is diagnosed by its typical anamnesis including snoring and exerted breathing patterns. The diagnosis is confirmed in unclear cases using polysomnography. Treatment consists of conservative measures such as weight reduction and--provided appropriate anatomical findings exist--adenotonsillectomy or adenotonsillotomy. Surgery is an effective treatment for OSA in children as proven by numerous studies of high evidence levels.     

Peripheral glycerol injection: An alternative treatment of children with glossopharyngeal neuralgia

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is much less common in children and more difficult to relief its pain symptoms than the adults. We report an experience with peripheral glycerol injection for the control of pain in eight sick children with glossopharyngeal neuralgia. At the latest follow-up, 5 cases had a complete pain-free result after the treatment. There were two sick children who were recurred within three months, of which one child was respond to additional injections. It is concluded that the peripheral glycerol injection is safe and effective in the control of pain symptom among the children with glossopharyngeal neuralgia.     

手术治疗儿童慢性化脓性中耳炎82例

目的探讨儿童慢性化脓性中耳炎（CSOM）的病变特点及手术方式的选择。方法在行手术治疗的儿童CSOM患者82例中,2例双耳病变者先行1耳手术,手术方式选择乳突根治术60例、改良乳突根治术20例、鼓室成形术2例。从术前并发症、病变范围、听骨破坏情况以及术后并发症等方面探讨其临床特征。结果82例手术中胆脂瘤型56例（68.2%）,慢性化脓性中耳炎伴肉芽26例（31.7%）,病变范围广泛,多累及外耳道鼓室、鼓窦、鼓窦入口,而听小骨破坏程度最重。术后随访0.5～2年,并发症出现有外耳道口狭窄8例,术腔增生挛缩8例;胆脂瘤复发1例,因术前病变严重术后面瘫未恢复1例。结论儿童CSOM其术前并发症中以颅外并发症多见,年龄越小病变程度越重,对其手术彻底清除病灶应放在首位,根据病变的情况选择不同的手术方式和主动定期随访可以有效降低术后复发率,经典的乳突根治术对儿童不宜采用。     

Intranasal ethmoidectomy in nasal polyposis in children. Indications and results.

Nasal polyposis in children is a rare pathology that is difficult to treat, with results that are often disappointing. The aim of this paper is focused on the surgical possibilities of ethmoidectomy by endonasal approach. Thirty-nine ethmoidectomies were performed in 24 children with a mean age of 12 years (cystic fibrosis, n = 7; Woakes' syndrome, n = 2; isolated polyposis, n = 15). The decision for surgical treatment was based upon the severity of initial symptoms, principally nasal obstruction, lack of improvement after medical treatment, and the assurance of good surgical follow-up. Twenty-three children were followed up for a mean of 3 years. Complete recurrence was noted in 13% of the cases (n = 3). In all the other cases, including those with partial recurrence, the lives of the children were transformed. Ethmoidectomy by endonasal approach is reliable if the appropriate surgical techniques are strictly followed. It has proven its efficacy in children with nasal polyposis with results that are very encouraging compared to previously proposed therapies.     

Auditory brainstem response and otoacoustic emission assessment of hearing-impaired children of mothers who contracted rubella during pregnancy

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the auditory brainstem response (ABR) results obtained in this study, the incidence of deafness in children whose mothers had rubella during pregnancy is high (29.5%), and deafness is profound in most cases (80%). Vaccinating women of childbearing age against rubella is essential to reduce the number of cases of childhood sensorineural hearing loss caused by gestational rubella. OBJECTIVE: It has been shown in the literature that, in Brazil, gestational rubella is responsible for approximately 21% of cases of deafness in children. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of deafness in children whose mothers had rubella during pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between February and July 2001, we conducted a prospective study assessing hearing status in 17 children (mean age 6 months). The mothers had serologically (ELISA) confirmed gestational rubella. We recorded ABRs and analysed distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). RESULTS: In 5 children (29.5%), ABRs revealed sensorineural hearing loss, which was moderate to severe in 1 (20%) and profound in 4 (80%). The hearing loss was bilateral in 3 children (60%) and asymmetrical in 4 (80%). Regarding DPOAEs, 7 children (41%) presented no response, and this occurred bilaterally in 4 (57%). All children with abnormal ABRs also presented abnormal DPOAEs. Two children with normal ABRs presented abnormal DPOAEs.     

Dysphonia--a rare early symptom of Ehlers--Danlos syndrome?

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a connective tissue disorder characterized by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility and cutaneous fragility. It usually presents in young adults and is rarely diagnosed in children. Voice involvement in young children, to our knowledge, has not been reported in the literature. We present two cases with dysphonia from birth and an eventual diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The syndrome and its relevance to voice pathology are discussed. We suggest that Ehlers-Danlos syndrome should be considered as an underlying diagnosis in atypical presentations of dysphonia in young children.     

Cholesteatoma in children

This is a retrospective review of 71 patients charts, over a 10-year period, with the diagnosis of cholesteatoma. An analysis included the demographic data, audiological data and surgical results. The selection of the surgical technique depended on the extent of the disease. In the majority of cases the primary procedure was of the canal wall down technique, which is contrary to most recently published reports. Most of the cholesteatomas were extensive, thereby requiring a more aggressive surgical approach. It was our opinion that the extent of the disease in a child was greater than in an adult. Another feature found in children is the occurrence of the disease behind an intact tympanic membrane. In this review, 35% of the cases presented in this manner. Hearing was maintained or improved in the majority of cases. It is concluded that cholesteatoma in children may differ from that in the adult and that even with canal wall down procedures, maintenance or improvement of hearing is achieved in most patients.     

内耳畸形语前聋患儿人工耳蜗术后康复效果分析

目的　评估内耳畸形语前聋患儿人工耳蜗植入术后康复结果。方法　回顾性分析术前影像学检查为内耳畸形语前聋人工耳蜗21例,并筛选背景接近的21例正常耳蜗结构语前聋人工耳蜗植入患儿配对组合。对患者术前、术后6个月及术后1年3个阶段听力言语康复效果进行评估。结果　9例前庭导水管扩大综合征和6例Mondini 畸形患者与耳蜗结构正常者相比,听觉言语结果无明显差异。畸形比较严重的1例Mondini和5例共同腔患者与耳蜗正常者相比,听觉言语结果有明显的差异。结论　前庭导水管扩大综合征患者人工耳蜗术后效果与耳蜗发育正常者相似,但对严重的Mondini 畸形和共同腔等内耳畸形者行人工耳蜗植入时术前应准确评估畸形的程度及伴发的畸形,以助于术后制定康复方案。     

Pediatric sinusitis: update

Sinusitis in children is a very common condition. It is being seen more and more by primary care physicians and pediatricians. Children average six to eight colds per year. Of those, 0.5 to 5% will develop a sinus infection. Symptoms of a cold or allergy overlap with those of rhinosinusitis in the child. Distinguishing rhinosinusitis from a cold or allergy may be challenging. It is agreed that if cold symptoms are not improving by 7 to 10 days, a sinus infection should be seriously considered. Plain radiographs can be helpful for maxillary sinusitis especially if an air-fluid level is seen; otherwise, the sensitivity and specificity of plain radiographs are poor. Computed tomography (CT) should not be used for diagnostic purposes. The role of CTis mainly in children with chronic rhinosinusitis when surgery is being considered. In cases of complicated sinusitis, a CT scan is necessary. Treatment of most rhinosinusitis cases in children is medical. Antibiotics constitute the mainstay of medical treatment. Medical treatment should be with an appropriate antibiotic and for at least 14 days. Adjunctive treatment with saline irrigations and topical and systemic decongestants may be helpful. Surgical intervention is necessary for complicated cases and for cases that do not respond to prolonged course of medical management. Currently adenoidectomy and endoscopic sinus surgery are the most common procedures used. Children needing surgical intervention are a small percentage because of the success of medical treatment. When and which surgical procedure to use are discussed in detail.     

Six cases of fibromatosis of the head and neck in children

Six cases of aggressive fibromatosis occurring in the head and neck in children are described. Fibromatosis is a rare, benign but locally infiltrative condition. Primary excision is not always possible in the head and neck areas. It is not always appropriate to treat children using the same modalities as adults due to associated growth problems. The case histories illustrate the management difficulties that can be encountered when treating the paediatric population.