Pediatric Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in the Last Decade: What Is New and Where to Next?

Background: Laryngopharyngeal reflux may affect people of any age; still, most of the accumulated knowledge concerns adults, and evidence regarding pediatric populations remains relatively restricted. This study aims to review the most recent and emerging aspects of pediatric laryngopharyngeal reflux from the last ten years. It also attempts to identify gaps in knowledge and highlight discrepancies that future research should urgently address.

Acute mastoiditis in infants aged six months or younger.

Objective: Bibliographic data for the management of acute mastoiditis in infants aged six months or less are very limited. This study investigated the presenting symptomatology, diagnostic and treatment options, and final outcomes in this age group.

Method: A retrospective review was conducted of all infants aged six months or less suffering from acute mastoiditis, admitted to our department between 2007 and 2017.

Pediatric otitic hydrocephalus: Report of two unusual cases and literature review.

Otitic hydrocephalus (OH) comprises a form of benign intracranial hypertension, which is secondary to otogenic lateral sinus thrombosis (LST). Only a small percentage of the patients with otogenic LST go into developing OH, and this may be associated with the multiplicity of anatomic variations of the cerebral venous drainage pathways. We present two pediatric cases of OH, along with a comprehensive review of the relevant literature.

Recovery of Abnormal ABR in Neonates and Infants at Risk of Hearing Loss.

The purpose of this retrospective study is to present the clinical experience of a single institution on the recovery of ABR thresholds in a large population of neonates and infants at risk of hearing loss. Potential prognostic factors associated with this phenomenon were also investigated. Out of 2248 high risk infants, 384 had abnormal ABR at initial hearing evaluation and 168 of them had absent ABR or a threshold ≥80 dBnHL.

Pediatric Masked Mastoiditis Associated with Multiple Intracranial Complications.

Masked mastoiditis is a distinct form of mastoiditis with little or no symptomatology, characterized by its potential to generate severe otogenic complications. Therefore, suspected masked mastoiditis should be diagnosed and treated without delay. This study reports a rare case of masked mastoiditis, manifested by multiple intracranial complications in an immunocompetent girl.

Mastoid subperiosteal abscess in children: drainage or mastoidectomy?

Objective: To evaluate the management of mastoid subperiosteal abscess using two different surgical approaches: simple mastoidectomy and abscess drainage.

Method: The medical records of 34 children suffering from acute mastoiditis with subperiosteal abscess were retrospectively reviewed. In these cases, the initial surgical approach consisted of either myringotomy plus simple mastoidectomy or myringotomy plus abscess drainage.

Algorithmic management of pediatric acute mastoiditis.

Objective: Today, no uniformly accepted diagnostic and therapeutic criteria have been established for the management of pediatric acute mastoiditis. The aim of this study is determine the efficacy and safety of an algorithmic approach for treating pediatric acute mastoiditis.

Methods: The medical records of all children (n=167) with a diagnosis of AM admitted in our center during the period 2002-2010 were retrospectively studied.

Incidence of non-infectious 'acute mastoiditis' in children.

Objective: The temporal bone may be the first involved site in cases of systemic disease, and may even present with acute, mastoiditis-like symptomatology. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of such non-infectious 'acute mastoiditis' in children.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective chart review of 73 children admitted to a tertiary referral centre for acute mastoiditis.

Reversible auditory brainstem responses screening failures in high risk neonates.

This work is aimed at assessing the frequency of occurrence of reversible auditory brainstem responses (ABR) abnormalities within a targeted hearing screening program for high risk (HR) newborns. The effect of age on screening is also evaluated and some important clinical issues are highlighted. The audiological records of 1,294 HR neonates were retrospectively reviewed.

Dermatopathic lymphadenitis imitating a deep neck space infection.

Introduction: Dermatopathic lymphadenitis (DL) represents a benign form of reactive lymph node hyperplasia. Symptoms attributed to DL alone are expected to be mild. The purpose of this study was to present a rare case of DL in a young girl that manifested as a deep neck space infection.

Pseudohypacusis: the most frequent etiology of sudden hearing loss in children.

Sudden hearing loss is a rare pathology in children. Several factors may be responsible for it although the exact etiology remains frequently undiagnosed. Among them, pseudohypacusis has been reported.

Results of endoscopic assisted probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in older children.

Purpose: To evaluate the results of lacrimal probing with the use of nasal endoscopy and identify the anatomical anomalies responsible for the symptoms in older children.

Methods: Fifty-two eyes of 40 children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction underwent primary probing of the lacrimal duct under general anaesthetic in conjunction with nasal endoscopy. Patients followed up for at least 6 months.

Audiologic evaluation of infants and preschoolers: a practical approach.

Many children suspected of having hearing loss are referred for audiologic evaluation every day. Cross-checking the results from more than one audiologic tests is considered crucial in pediatric audiology, preferably combining subjective and objective methods. The current recommended approach for hearing assessment of infants and preschoolers is based on physiologic tests, immittance measurements, and behavioral responses.

Long-term effects of chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia on the medial olivocochlear bundle: effects of different cumulative doses of gentamicin.

Objective: The treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) often combines a neurotoxic chemotherapeutic protocol such as Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster-95 (BFM-95) with gentamicin, an antibiotic known to have an early and quickly reversed impact on olivocochlear reflex in animal studies. This study investigates whether this combination has any long-term side effects on the medial olivocochlear bundle (MOCB).

Methods: In all 47 children of the study suppression of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) by contralateral application of white noise (WN) was used to assess the function of the MOCB.

Maturation of the auditory system: 1. Transient otoacoustic emissions as an index of inner ear maturation.

The transiently evoked otoacoustic emission amplitude of 42 preterm babies (84 ears; post-conceptional age [PCA] 30-36 weeks) was compared with the TEOAE amplitude of 39 full-term babies (78 ears; PCA 37-45 weeks) in order to trace the inner ear maturation characteristics. An ILO-92 otoacoustic emission recording system was used with linear clicks of 70 dB peak equivalent SPL. The results obtained indicated: (1) There was no statistically significant difference between preterm and full-term ears; (2) There was no significant difference between males and females; (3) There was a significant difference between left and right ear TEOAE amplitude; (4) The interaction of ear with age in relation to TEOAE amplitude was statistically significant; (5) Noise and stimulus parameters did not reveal any significant differences between right and left ears; (6) A positive correlation existed between birthweight and TEOAE amplitude; and (7) A negative correlation existed between aminoglycoside treatment and TEOAE amplitude.

Neurotoxicity of BFM-95 on the medial olivocochlear bundle assessed by means of contralateral suppression of 2f1-f2 distortion product otoacoustic emissions.

Objective: Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster 95 (BFM-95) is a common chemotherapeutic protocol against acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This prospective study investigates whether this protocol has an adverse effect on the medial olivocochlear bundle (MOCB) and/or outer hair cells' (OHCs) function. The distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and their suppression by means of contralateral application of white noise were used for assessing the function of OHCs and the MOCB, respectively.

Neurotoxicity of vincristine on the medial olivocochlear bundle.

Objective: Vincristine is a well known neurotoxic chemotherapeutic agent. Dose dependent and cumulative peripheral neuropathy is the main dose limiting side effect of chemotherapy with vincristine. The mechanisms responsible for the neurotoxic effects of vincristine have not yet been fully understood.

Transient infantile auditory neuropathy and its clinical implications.

Objective: Auditory neuropathy (AN) has been a well-accepted clinical entity during the last years. Though we are able to diagnose AN reliably, little is known concerning its epidemiology, etiology and prognosis. This study is aimed at presenting a particular characteristic of the disease, namely its potential transient behaviour, observed in a group of high risk neonates suffering from AN.

The effect of treatment with vincristine on transient evoked and distortion product otoacoustic emissions.

Objective: Vincristine chemotherapy is mainly associated with neurotoxic effects. The ototoxicity of vincristine has been related to high dosage, while low and moderate doses do not seem to induce significant hearing impairment when measured by pure tone or speech audiometry. Otoacoustic emissions have been reported to be more sensitive in early detection of ototoxicity than conventional pure tone audiometry.

Etiological diagnosis of bilateral, sensorineural hearing impairment in a pediatric Greek population.

Early diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of childhood deafness are essential for a child's normal growth. Etiological diagnosis of hearing loss makes prevention, family scheduling and more effective therapy feasible goals. Etiological assessment of sensorineural deafness still remains difficult although recently with the progress of genetics it has become more efficient.

Hearing evaluation with distortion-product otoacoustic emissions in young patients undergoing haemodialysis.

Sensorineural hearing loss is frequently reported in young patients with chronic renal failure having haemodialysis. The effect of a single session of haemodialysis on hearing acuity was assessed prospectively in nine children with end-stage renal disease using pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). Results were compared with those obtained from nine audiologically normal healthy children also tested with PTA and DPOAEs twice during a 4-h interval.

Hearing loss in speech-language delayed children.

An infant begins to communicate with his/her environment from the first months of life. However, true words do not appear until the age of 12-15 months, following a rather predictable sequence. Delay or failure of normal language development is not a rare situation in childhood and may be due to a variety of reasons.

Towards a universal newborn hearing screening.

Hearing loss is a common problem which, if remaining undetected during early childhood, could affect the patient's linguistic and mental abilities permanently. Although recommended, mass hearing screening has so far been problematic or even impossible due to several reasons. The available otoacoustic emission devices appear to be effective tools for universal hearing screening.