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Biomedical subjects

Tasnee Chonmaitree

Publications and source records attributed to Tasnee Chonmaitree.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Otoscopic and tympanometric findings in acute otitis media yielding dry tap at tympanocentesis.

BACKGROUND: The value of tympanometry in detection of middle ear effusion (MEE) has been widely studied in otitis media with effusion. There has been no direct comparison of tympanometric and tympanocentesis (TAP) findings in acute otitis media (AOM). We compared otoscopic, tympanometric and TAP findings in AOM including cases of AOM without effusion. METHODS: In a study of AOM treatment of 90 children, a tympanogram was obtained, and TAP was performed before and after 5 days of treatment. Subjects were followed with otoscopy and tympanometry every 2 weeks for 3 months or until the MEE cleared. RESULTS: In 130 AOM ears, otoscopic, tympanometric and TAP findings were available; MEE was obtained from 110 ears. Of 20 ears with a dry tap, 18 had abnormal tympanogram and otoscopic findings. With TAP findings as the standard, sensitivity and positive predictive value of type B tympanogram were 97 and 87%, respectively. Of 18 AOM ears yielding dry tap, 2 yielded MEE 5 days later, and 8 continued with evidence of MEE 5 days-12 weeks later. Five subjects with 8 AOM ears yielding dry tap were lost to follow-up; all had short duration of clinical symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Although otoscopic and tympanometric findings suggested the presence of MEE in AOM, MEE was unobtainable by TAP in 14% of cases. Dry tap cases likely represent early AOM before accumulation of detectable MEE. However, technical difficulty in obtaining small amounts of or highly viscous MEE could not be excluded. Sensitivity and positive predictive value of abnormal tympanograms in detection of MEE in AOM cases are comparable with those in otitis media with effusion.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMed2003

Middle ear fluid histamine and leukotriene B4 in acute otitis media: effect of antihistamine or corticosteroid treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Two potent mediators of acute inflammation, histamine and leukotriene B4 (LTB4), have been shown to play important roles in the pathogenesis and clinical course of acute otitis media (AOM) in children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of adjuvant drugs, antihistamine and corticosteroid, in reduction of the levels of histamine and LTB4 in the middle ear and their ability to improve outcomes of AOM. METHODS: Eighty children with AOM (aged 3 months to 6 years) were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. All children received one dose of intramuscular ceftriaxone and were randomly assigned to receive either chlorpheniramine maleate (0.35 mg/kg per day) and/or prednisolone (2 mg/kg per day) or placebos three times a day for 5 days. Tympanocentesis was performed at enrollment and after 5 days of adjuvant drug treatment. MEFs were collected for bacterial and viral studies and histamine and LTB4 levels. The subjects were followed for the duration of middle ear effusion or up to 3 months. RESULTS: Histamine or LTB4 levels in the MEF after 5 days of treatment were not significantly reduced by adjuvant drug treatment. However, subjects receiving corticosteroid had a lower rate of treatment failure during the first 2 weeks and shorter duration of middle ear effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Five day of antihistamine or corticosteroid treatment does not reduce the levels of histamine or leukotriene B4 in the MEF of children with AOM. Positive clinical outcomes of AOM cases associated with corticosteroid treatment needs to be confirmed in a larger clinical trial of children with intact tympanic membranes, who do not receive tympanocentesis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the effect of antihistamine or corticosteroid treatment in acute otitis media.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the adjunctive drugs antihistamine and corticosteroid improve immediate and long-term outcomes of acute otitis media (AOM). STUDY DESIGN: Children with AOM (3 mos-6 y) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. All 179 children received one dose of intramuscular ceftriaxone and were assigned to receive either chlorpheniramine maleate (0.35 mg/kg/d) and/or prednisolone (2 mg/kg/day) or placebo for 5 days. Main outcome measures were rate of treatment failure during the first 2 weeks, duration of middle ear effusion, and rate of recurrences of AOM to 6 months. RESULTS: Clinical outcomes and recurrence rates did not differ significantly with treatment. Children who received antihistamine alone had significantly longer duration of middle ear effusion (median, 73 days) than subjects in other treatment groups (median, 23 to 36 days, P=.04). Temporary normalization of tympanometric findings on day 5 occurred more frequently in the corticosteroid-treated group (P=.04). CONCLUSIONS: Five-day treatment with antihistamine or corticosteroid, in addition to antibiotic, did not improve AOM outcomes. Antihistamine use during an acute episode of OM should be avoided, since the drug may prolong the duration of middle ear effusion. The efficacy of 7- to 10-day treatment of AOM with corticosteroid, in addition to antibiotic, deserves further investigation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Importance of respiratory viruses in acute otitis media.

Acute otitis media is usually considered a simple bacterial infection that is treated with antibiotics. However, ample evidence derived from studies ranging from animal experiments to extensive clinical trials supports a crucial role for respiratory viruses in the etiology and pathogenesis of acute otitis media. Viral infection of the upper respiratory mucosa initiates the whole cascade of events that finally leads to the development of acute otitis media as a complication. The pathogenesis of acute otitis media involves a complex interplay between viruses, bacteria, and the host's inflammatory response. In a substantial number of children, viruses can be found in the middle-ear fluid either alone or together with bacteria, and recent studies indicate that at least some viruses actively invade the middle ear. Viruses appear to enhance the inflammatory process in the middle ear, and they may significantly impair the resolution of otitis media. Prevention of the predisposing viral infection by vaccination against the major viruses would probably be the most effective way to prevent acute otitis media. Alternatively, early treatment of the viral infection with specific antiviral agents would also be effective in reducing the occurrence of acute otitis media.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Bullous myringitis: a case-control study.

Prior studies have shown that bullous myringitis (BM) accounts for <10% of acute otitis media (AOM) cases, and that the distribution of viral and bacterial pathogens in BM is similar to that in AOM without BM, except for a relative increase in the proportion of Streptococcus pneumoniae in BM. We studied 518 cases of AOM in children aged 6 months to 12 years. Using tele-otoscopy to assist the diagnosis, we identified 41 cases (7.9%) with BM. Children who had AOM with BM were older than AOM patients without BM (median age: 4.3 years vs 18 months). We compared 41 cases of AOM with BM to 41 control cases of age-, race-, and gender-matched AOM patients without BM. When compared with this matched control group, children with BM had more severe symptoms at the time of diagnosis and were more likely to have bulging of the tympanic membrane in the quadrants that were not obscured by the bulla. Children with AOM and BM may require aggressive pain management. Although parents and clinicians may agree that a watchful waiting approach is appropriate for older children with mild AOM, children experiencing painful AOM with BM may not be successful candidates for a watchful-waiting approach, because parents may resist postponement of antibiotic therapy in children who are more symptomatic.

Acute Disease↗