Chorda tympani nerve function in children: relationship to otitis media and body mass index.
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol
; 74(12): 1393-6, 2010 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20932587
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS:
A relationship between acute otitis media and elevated body mass index has recently been reported. Intriguingly, it was postulated that this relationship may result from altered chorda tympani nerve function impacting taste sensation and eating habits. We sought to test this directly by measuring chorda tympani nerve function in children with and without a previous history of acute otitis media and to determine the relationship to body mass index. STUDYDESIGN:
Retrospective cohort study.METHODS:
Institutional research ethics board approval was obtained. Study participants included 142 children (5-18 years of age) who were recruited from an otolaryngology outpatient clinic at a tertiary academic pediatric hospital between May and August 2009. Children were excluded if they were not able to communicate effectively, younger than age 5, or had developmental disabilities. Body mass index was calculated and the history of previous otologic disease carefully elicited from the caregivers. Electrogustometric threshold, a validated measure of chorda tympani function, was obtained bilaterally in each child. Children were divided into cohorts based on the number of acute otitis media episodes, and electrogustometry thresholds were compared between cohorts.RESULTS:
Electrogustometric thresholds were successfully obtained in all children. There was no significant relationship between chorda tympani nerve function and history of acute otitis media. Similarly, there was no significant association between the history of otitis media and body mass index.CONCLUSION:
This study did not demonstrate any effect of previous acute otitis media history on chorda tympani nerve function. Furthermore, it did not demonstrate a relationship between acute otitis media and elevated body mass index. This is counter-evidence to the previous hypothesis that increasing acute otitis media is responsible for increasing childhood obesity through alteration in chorda tympani nerve function.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Otite Média
/
Limiar Gustativo
/
Índice de Massa Corporal
/
Nervo da Corda do Tímpano
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article