Ear infections

BACKGROUND: Button battery (BB) ingestions (BBI) are increasingly prevalent in children and constitute a significant, potentially life-threatening health hazard, and thus a pediatric emergency. Ingested BBs are usually charged and can cause severe symptom within 2 h. Discharged BBs ingestion is very rare and protracted symptom trajectories complicate diagnosis. Timely imaging is all the more important. Discharged BBs pose specific hazards, such as impaction, and necessitate additional interventions...

OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution of pathogenic Aspergillus strains of otomycosis in central China and the identification of their antifungal sensitivity. METHODS: We collected external ear canal secretions clinically diagnosed as otomycosis from April 2020 to January 2023 from the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in central China. The pathogenic Aspergillus strains were identified through morphological examination and sequencing. The antifungal sensitivity was performed using the broth microdilution method described in the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute document M38-A3...

Objective: To provide the experience of diagnosis and treatment of second branchial cleft fistula in children. Methods: The clinical data of 76 children with second branchial cleft fistulas admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University from January 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent cervical ultrasonography and resection of the second branchial cleft fistula, and their clinical manifestations, surgical methods, complications, recurrence condition, and lesion appearance of the patients were analyzed...

OBJECTIVE: Staphylococcus haemolyticus can cause a series of infections including otitis media (OM), and the oxacillin-resistant S. haemolyticus has become a serious health concern. This study aimed to investigate the genomic characteristics of two strains of oxacillin-resistant and mecA -positive S. haemolyticus isolated from the samples of ear swabs from patients with OM and explore their acquired antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the mobile genetic elements (MGEs). METHODS: Two oxacillin-resistant S...

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistant bacteria among hospitalized patients are becoming a major public health threat worldwide, mainly in developing countries. Infections by these multidrug resistant pathogens cause high rate of mortality, prolong hospital stays, and affect individual and country economies in greater amounts. Thus, this study aimed to assess the bacterial profile, antimicrobial susceptibility status, and associated factors of isolates from hospitalized patients at the Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital...

BACKGROUND: The presence of polyotia in individuals with microtia is a rare deformity. Due to the intricate structure of the auricle, uncertain etiology, and challenging corrective techniques, it has always been a focal point in the field of plastic surgery. The present study presents a technique for correcting the combination of polyotia and microtia by utilizing residual ear tissue as graft material. METHODS: The retrospective study included 23 patients with polyotia and microtia from 2018 to 2022...

PURPOSE: Cerumen impaction is a public problem of great concern due to associated hearing impairment. Despite cerumen impaction being one of the commonest causes of hearing loss among primary school children, there is no any published study to date from northern Tanzania focused on this topic. This study aimed to address this gap. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used where 307 primary school pupils were recruited using a multistage cluster sampling technique and it was conducted from January to July 2023...

Pseudoaneurysm of the internal carotid artery following otogenic infection is rare but leads to catastrophic outcomes. In our case series, we present two patients with ICA pseudoaneurysm complicated by malignant otitis externa, and we emphasise the importance of timely diagnosis and management to prevent fatal outcomes. A pseudoaneurysm should be ruled out in a patient with malignant otitis externa presenting with recurrent epistaxis or ear bleed.

Otitic Hydrocephalus (OH) is one of the most significant life-threatening complications of otological infections. Given their low prevalence and non-specific ear symptoms, this complication requires a high index of suspicion for diagnosis. In this case report, we aim to provide an analysis of OH and describe common clinical signs and symptoms, treatment options, morbidity and mortality.

UNLABELLED: Deep neck space infections are an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) emergency. Navigation system (NS) can be utilized to assist in locating the exact site of pathology and avoiding iatrogenic injury especially in paediatric patients. This manuscript explores the importance of NS in managing retro pharyngeal abscess (RPA) in an 11 month old baby. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-023-04406-9...

Skull base osteomyelitis is a vicious infection of temporal bone associated with very high morbidity and mortality. But few studies have been undertaken recently for eliciting its increasing incidence. Hence this study aims to describe the clinical profile of skull base osteomyelitis and changes noted in the post-covid period, and encourage a uniform treatment policy globally. This descriptive study was conducted among 140 patients diagnosed with skull base osteomyelitis. Data was collected using semi-structured proforma, HRCT temporal bone findings, microbiological reports, histopathology of granulation tissue, ESR and House-Brackmann grading...

Otitis externa is an inflammatory and infectious disease that affects the external auditory canal. The term otorrhea refers to the outflow of discharge from the ear which is one of the main symptoms of otitis externa along with inflammation. External ear canal pathology or middle ear illness with tympanic membrane perforation is the etiological factor of otorrhea. Otorrhea is an indication of infection. Antimicrobial agents are the conventional treatment of various bacterial and fungal infections, but they have impediments such as resistance development, side effects, patient affordability, etc...

Aminoglycosides are commonly used antibiotics for treatment of gram-negative bacterial infections, however, they might act on inner ear, leading to hair-cell death and hearing loss. Currently, there is no targeted therapy for aminoglycoside ototoxicity, since the underlying mechanisms of aminoglycoside-induced hearing impairments are not fully defined. This study aimed to investigate whether the calcium channel blocker verapamil and changes in intracellular & extracellular calcium could ameliorate aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity in zebrafish...

BACKGROUND: Syphilis is an infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. It is mainly transmitted through oral, vaginal and anal sex, in pregnancy and through blood transfusion. Syphilis develops in primary, secondary, latent and tertiary stages and presents with different clinical features at each stage. Infected patients can remain asymptomatic for several years and, without treatment, can, in extreme cases, manifest as damage in several organs and tissues, including the brain, nervous tissue, eyes, ear and soft tissues...

Background The rise in infections caused by penicillin-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae has become a global concern. However, the magnitude of this problem in Southwest Saudi Arabia has never been investigated. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of this bacteria in the region using in vitro data. Materials and methods This study retrospectively studied pneumococcal isolates collected by the Microbiology Laboratory of a general hospital in Al Baha, Saudi Arabia, from January 2013 to December 2017...

Disease interactions between farmed and wild populations have been poorly documented for most aquaculture species, in part due to the complexities to study this. Here, we tested 567 farmed Atlantic salmon escapees, captured in a Norwegian river during 2014-2018, for five viral infections that are prevalent in global salmonid aquaculture. Over 90% of the escapees were infected with one or more viruses. Overall prevalences were: 75.7% for piscine orthoreovirus (PRV-1), 43.6% for salmonid alphavirus (SAV), 31...

BACKGROUND: Over 120 million people in the USA live in areas with unsafe ozone (O3) levels. Studies among adults have linked exposure to worse lung function and higher risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, few studies have examined the effects of O3 in children, and existing studies are limited in terms of their geographic scope or outcomes considered. METHODS: We leveraged a dataset of encounters at 42 US children's hospitals from 2004-2015...

BACKGROUND: Patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and positive myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) may present with various abnormalities in chest computed tomography (CT). This study aimed to identify subphenotypes using latent class analysis (LCA) and to explore the relationship between the subphenotypes and clinical patterns, as well as compare the clinical characteristics of these subphenotypes in patients with MPO-ANCA-positive MPA (MPO-MPA). METHODS: The study identified subphenotypes using LCA based on chest CT findings in 178 patients with MPO-MPA and pulmonary involvement from June 2014 to August 2022...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The epidemiology of brain abscess has changed in recent decades. Moreover, acute and long-term management remains challenging with high risks of mortality and neurological sequelae. This review describes recent advances in epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of brain abscess. RECENT FINDINGS: The incidence of brain abscess is increasing, especially among elderly individuals. Important predisposing conditions include dental and ear-nose-throat infections, immuno-compromise, and previous neurosurgery...

Cleft palate leads to difficulty in suckling, speech abnormalities, dental problems, hearing loss and middle ear infections. Feeding plate acts as a barrier between the oral and nasal cavities allowing the normal development of jaws and enhanced nutritional supply to the patient. Fabrication of the feeding plate using digital means provide better adaptability due to the engagement of all the possible favourable anatomic undercuts, thereby, providing better retention. This case report discusses the hybrid technique including both the digital and conventional means for fabrication of a feeding plate to obturate the defect between the oral and nasal cavity...