Allergy and CSOM
An association between CSOM and allergy has long been debated, and only afew studies have been performed. Interestingly, some authors observed elevated IgE levels in the middle ear secretions of children with CSOM, suggesting that allergy may play a contributory role in pathogenesis of CSOM.50
Fliss et al., in a case control study in children, observed that history of acute and recurrent OM, parental history of chronic otitis media, larger families, and more siblings were associated with high risk for CSOM, whereas sex, parental age and education, allergy, sinusitis, and recurrent URTI were not.51There is paucity of data in literature regarding the role of allergy or atopy as a significant risk factor for CSOM in children and it was not possible to perform a qualitative analysis. Additional studies evaluating are strongly required.