21 January 2019 Monday
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sedat Rüzgar on Allergic Rhinitis and Hearing Loss
Allergic rhinitis is a chronic disease caused by a series of reactions caused by exposure of the nasal mucous membrane to certain external factors. This causes nasal hyperactivity. Nasal hyperactivity affects both eyes and nose and causes common symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
These reactions are the main defense mechanism of the body, which occurs by the formation of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. IgE antibodies allow the release of chemical agents in cells that are susceptible to certain antigens that compensate for infections. Because of these chemical mediators, the body enters an extreme sensitivity that causes symptoms of slow infection.
Allergy or hypersensitivity may cause more significant and permanent complications in newborns or toddlers than in adults. The treatment protocol varies with the emergence of the sinuses, middle ear cavity and the growth of the adenoid. In our country, we often see hearing loss caused by the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear cavity caused by nasal and allergic chronic sinusitis.
Although the middle ear is the last link in the chain, the treatment period is prolonged and relapses become more frequent if the appropriate treatment for allergy is not started.
In the pediatric group, audiologic evaluation by auditory brainstem responses (ABR) is an option for children who are not cooperative during the use of acoustic emmitance meter, autoacustic emission and behavioral tests. In the hearing loss caused by the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear due to allergies in children aged 0- 6; The removal of the fluid accumulated in the middle ear, the insertion of the tube into the ear, or the elimination of the underlying allergy-related pathology by the drug are the treatment options for nasal polyps/adenoid or sinusitis.
The important thing is to follow the chain of symptoms and apply the proper treatment respectively. The first link in this treatment chain is drug treatment. In the period of early diagnosis, decongestants, antibiotics and anti-allergic drugs are the main treatment options.
Unresponsiveness to drug therapy, the disappearance of fluid accumulated in the middle ear, the absence of contraction in the nasal polyps, signs of chronic sinusitis extending to the formation of polyps is the key to the transition to the next ring surgery.
