Middle Ear: Otitis Media

The middle ear is connected to the throat by the Eustachian tube and often participates in infections and allergic inflammation that starts in the nose and throat. Recurrent middle ear pain and fluid collections (serous otitis media) that impair hearing are common in the first five years of life. Congestion or inflammation of the nose (rhinitis), sinuses (sinusitis), ear (otitis) and throat (pharyngitis) are most often caused by viral infections. Other causes are airborne irritants, allergens and food allergy.

Serous otitis recurrences are referred to as recurrent otitis media (ROM) which costs $2 billion per year to treat in the US and is responsible for an estimated 10 million medical office visits per year. ROM is often blamed on infection and children are prescribed repeated courses of antibiotics with no benefit.

Food Allergy Causes Serous Otitis Media

ROM may be eliminated by proper diet revision. Milk, wheat, and egg white allergy are the most common causes of respiratory symptoms, but other foods can do this. Food allergy is suggested by symptoms that recur for months or years such as nasal stuffiness, snoring, increased mucus flow in nose and throat, and recurrent sore throats.

Nsouli et al reported that of 104 children with chronic serous otitis media 78% had positive skin tests for food and an elimination diet led to a significant amelioration of symptoms in 86% . The most common allergenic foods were cow's milk (38%), wheat (33%), egg white (25%), peanut (20%) and soya (17%). The authors concluded that food allergy should be considered in all children with ROM.

Nsouli TM; Nsouli SM; Linde RE; O'Mara F; Scanlon RT; Bellanti JA. Ann Allergy, 73: 3, 1994 Sep, 215-9

BACKGROUND. The relationship between IgE-mediated hypersensitivity and recurrent serous otitis media has not been completely established. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of food allergy in patients with recurrent serous otitis media. METHODS. A total of 104 unselected patients (age range 1.5 to 9 years, mean 4.6 years) with recurrent serous otitis media were evaluated for food allergy by means of skin prick testing, specific IgE tests, and food challenge. Patients who were allergic to food(s) underwent an exclusion diet of the specific offending food(s) for a period of 16 weeks. A non-double blinded food challenge was performed with the suspected offending food(s). Their middle ear effusion was monitored and assessed by tympanometry (Welch Allyn Model 23600) during the pre-elimination, elimination and challenge diet phases. RESULTS. There was a significant statistical association, by chi-square analysis, between food allergy and recurrent serous otitis media in 81/104 patients (78%). The elimination diet led to a significant amelioration of serous otitis media in 70/81 (86%) patients as assessed by clinical evaluation and tympanometry. The challenge diet with the suspected offending food(s) provoked a recurrence of serous otitis media in 66/70 patients (94%) CONCLUSIONS. The possibility of food allergy should be considered in all children with recurrent serous otitis media.

Helping Children Website was developed by Alpha Education, a division of Environmed Research Inc. Sechelt, B.C., Canada. Online Since 1995. Experts in Self-Managed Care. Experts in Elemental Nutrient Formulas. The two books: Feeding Children, Children and Family were written by Stephen Gislason MD. The latest edition was released in 2009. The Alpha Nutrition Program is required reading when diet revision is required to solve children's diseases.

Orders for printed books and nutrient formulas are placed at Alpha Online. eBook versions the books can be downloaded from Persona Digital, a separate online site for the download distribution of eBooks, music and other digital documents. Alpha Nutrition is a registered trademark of Environmed Research Inc. Click the yellow download buttons on the right to download PDF files. Click a book title to read selections from the book.

Feeding Children

	Children and Family
	Intelligence and Learning

Alpha Nutrition Program

Children Nutritional Rescue starts with a copy of the Alpha Nutrition Program, the book, Feeding Children that explains in detail food related problems in children and one 500 Gram jar of Alpha ENF. You can try the nutrient formula, evaluate its effects and learn how you can use it as a tool of nutritional therapy to help your health problem. Starter packs are sold at a discount to make it easy and affordable for you to learn more and try out the formula. Order Rescue Starter Pack