Tracing of Helicobacter pylori in the middle ear and mastoid mucosa of patients under 18 years of age with chronic otitis media (with and without cholesteatomas).

OBJECTIVE: It has been estimated that about 5 million people of those affected with otitis media have cholesteatoma, however, its pathophysiology is unclear. In this study we aimed to detect Helicobacter pylori via polymerase chain reaction and real-time polymerase chain reaction in young patients with chronic otitis media. METHODS: Patients included in our prospective cross-sectional study had middle-ear/mastoid inflammation and underwent surgical procedures. Middle-ear mucosa samples were collected, and genomic DNA was extracted for H pylori detection by polymerase chain reaction and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses. Sociodemographic data and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms were analysed. RESULTS: We included 49 patients with mean age of 12.7 ± 3.8 years. Twenty per cent of the patients were diagnosed with cholesteatoma. No increase in H pylori-amplified fluorescence was observed, indicating absence of H pylori. CONCLUSION: Due to the absence of amplification for H pylori and the fact that albumin was amplified in all samples, we conclude that H pylori does not appear to be a causal factor.