[Otorhinolaryngo logical manifestations in patients with Down syndrome]. / Manifestaciones otorrinolaringológicas en el síndrome de Down.

OBJECTIVE: The objective [corrected] of our study was to assess the most frequent otorhinolaryngological manifestations in patients with Down syndrome, and to propose diagnostic and management guidelines to improve their quality of life. METHODS: Patients with Down's syndrome referred to the ENT Department of two Spanish Hospitals during a 4-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Data of the following variables were collected: main symptoms, diagnosis, comorbidities, surgical procedures, and complications. RESULTS: Thirty patients with Down's syndrome were included in our study. The most frequent reasons for referral were hearing loss and newborns from the Hearing Impairment Screening Program. Otitis media with effusion, adenoid hypertrophy and obstructive sleep apnea were the most common diagnosis. Five patients underwent head and neck surgical procedures without complications. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing loss secondary to chronic otitis media with effusion and upper airway obstruction are frequent pathologies in patients with Down syndrome.

[Etiology of severe/profound, pre/perilingual bilateral hearing loss in Cantabria (Spain)]. / Etiología de la hipoacusia severa/profunda bilateral pre/perilocutiva en Cantabria.

OBJECTIVE: To know the etiology of preiperlingual bilateral hearing loss in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the patients diagnosed with bilateral severe/profound, pre or perilingual hearing loss at Sierrallana and Marqués de Valdecilla Hospitals (Cantabria, Spain) during the last 20 years were included in this study. RESULTS: A hundred patients were diagnosed with bilateral severe/profound pre/perilingual hearing loss. The most frequent etiology was hereditary (49%), followed by severe perinatal hypoxia (11%), ototoxicity (5%), meningitis (3%), hyperbilirubinemia (3%) and rubella (2%). In 21% of cases was not known. CONCLUSIONS: The two most frequent etiologies found in severe/profound hearing loss in children in our area were hereditary and non infectious perinatal problems. Infectious disease were scarce. Will decrease when genetic test were used as clinical basis.