Abstract

One of the most prevalent chronic otological problems in children is otitis media with effusion (OME). By three, two-thirds of children have had at least one episode of OME, and one-third are asymptomatic. Most commonly, hearing loss, delayed speech and language development and poor social conduct in younger children are seen in the pediatric population. Surgical treatment consists of myringotomy and grommet (ventilation or tympanostomy tube) insertion and the removal of the underlying cause as and when indicated. This study was thus undertaken to study the prevalence of otitis media with effusion in children and to assess the improvement in symptomatology after a tympanostomy tube insertion.

Key words: paediatric otology