[Pediatric OSAS and otitis media with effusion].

BACKGROUND: Adenotonsillar hyperplasia is considered as a possible cause for two frequent ENT disorders in children: pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and otitis media with effusion (OME). The present study analyzes whether a link between pediatric OSAS and OME can also be presumed.

METHODS: Polysomnographic data of 186 children with suspected OSAS were correlated to middle ear ventilation assessed by tympanometry. Tympanograms were classified according to Jerger.

RESULTS: In a Kruskal Wallis test, children with an apnea-hypopnea index  < 1 (exclusion of OSA by tight criteria), 1-5 or  > 5 (definitively pathological value) did not statistically significantly differ in the prevalence of normally ventilated ears and OME. Accordingly, the Mann-Whitney U test showed that children with normally ventilated ears did not have a statistically different apnea-hypopnea, apnea, hypopnea or snoring index or varying minimal oxygen saturation to children suffering from OME.

CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, no link was detected between pediatric OSAS and OME.