| Title | Rhinovirus RNA in children with longstanding otitis media with effusion. | ||
| Author | Pitkaranta, Anne; Rihkanen, Heikki; Carpen, Olli; Vaheri, Antti | ||
| Journal | Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol | Publication Year/Month | 2002-Dec |
| PMID | 12443813 | PMCID | -N/A- |
| Affiliation | 1.Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Helsinki, PL 220, 00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland. anne.pitkaranta@hus.fi. | ||
BACKGROUND: Earlier studies indicate that respiratory viruses may play a role in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME). OBJECTIVES: To study the presence of rhinovirus RNA in middle ear mucosa in children with OME without signs of present acute infection. METHODS: Eighteen children scheduled for tympanostomy tube placement due to longstanding OME were recruited and a biopsy of the promontory mucosa was obtained. In addition, adenoidectomy was performed for eight of these children and a biopsy of adenoid tissue was taken as well. The samples were collected from December to May. Rhinovirus RNA was studied by in situ hybridization (ISH). RESULTS: Seven out of eight adenoid biopsies were positive for rhinovirus by ISH. However, rhinovirus RNA was not found in any of the 18 middle ear biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that children with longstanding OME do not have a rhinovirus infection in the middle ear mucosa, although the same children frequently harbor large amounts of rhinovirus RNA in their adenoid tissue.