Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Otitis Media with Effusion

Objective: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy causes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and otitis media with effusion (OME). Is there also an association between OSA and OME? Method: A total of 150 children with suspected OSA aged 4 to 8 years underwent polysomnography and tympanometry. Results: A total of 72% were diagnosed with OSAS (apnea hypopnea index (AHI) >1). 46% had an AHI >5. 36% of the children had a tympanogram type A (Jerger) on both ears (normally ventilated) and 22% a type B on both ears (suggesting OME). Using Kruskal-Wallis test, children with an AHI 5 did not statistically significantly differ in the prevalence of normally ventilated ears and OME. Accordingly, Mann-Whitney test showed that children with normally ventilated ears did not have a statistically different AHI, apnea index, hypopnea index or minimal oxygen saturation than children suffering from OME. Conclusion: Children with OME are not more likely to be diagnosed with OSAS and vice versa. This finding indicates a stronger association between adenoid hypertrophy and OME respectively tonsillar hypertrophy and OSAS.