Exudative otitis media in children: the main causes. Part I

Otitis media, including exudative otitis, is one of the most common childhood diseases. Almost asymptomatic course in children of early and preschool age leads to undiagnosed hearing loss. In such cases the minimal auditory deficit significantly affects the auditory-speech development and the formation of higher cortical functions in children. It is pediatricians who are the first to deal with the manifestations of exudative otitis media. Consequently, their knowledge and understanding of the disease, including the most common causes and risk factors, is important. The first part of the literature review considers the theories of the exudative otitis media formation, the role of viral and bacterial flora in the development of the disease, the effect of obstruction of the auditory tube against the background of nasopharyngeal neoplasms, craniofacial anomalies (including chromosomal aberrations), allergic diseases, rhinosinusitis and adenoiditis.