The gooey, golden stuff that builds up inside your ears should stay there, according to national guidelines on earwax removal released today.
"[Earwax] is not intrinsically evil stuff, and consequently does not have to be removed merely because it's present," said Peter Roland, an ear, nose and throat doctor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. "In fact, it serves a function and so if you don't need to take it out, you should just leave it alone."
Roland chaired a panel of doctors in charge of the new guidelines for earwax removal issued by the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF). The guidelines are intended to serve two purposes: to determine under what circumstances earwax needs to be removed, and to give doctors the scoop on which removal methods work best.
They hope the guidelines won't fall on deaf ears: About 12 million people a year in the United States seek medical care for impacted or excessive earwax. Impaction, they say, can cause pain, pressure, itching, foul odor, ringing of the ears, ear discharge and, in extreme cases, hearing loss.
Good-for-you gooThere's a reason for the goo. Earwax is a self-cleaning agent, with protective, lubricating and antibacterial properties, doctors say.
That's why tiny glands in the outer ear canal constantly pump out a watery substance, which gets mixed with bits of dead hair and skin and together is called earwax or cerumen. Excess earwax normally treks slowly out of the ear canal, with an extra boost from chewing and other jaw movements, carrying with it dirt, dust and other small particles from the ear canal. Then, dried-up clumps of the stuff fall out of the ear opening.
When this natural earwax train malfunctions, or when individuals poke around in their ears with cottons swabs or other foreign objects such as bobby pins or matchsticks, earwax can build up and block part of the ear canal.
"Then there are lots of people wearing earplugs for one reason or another, either because they've got hearing aids or they're transcriptionists at work or because they're addicted to their walkman," Roland told LiveScience, "and that can increase the likelihood that the wax doesn’t come out on its own."
Older adults are more prone to earwax buildup then younger individuals.
"The wax gets much thicker and drier, and plus you actually end up with more hair in your ear, when you're older, and so it traps it," Roland said.
He added, "Unfortunately, many people feel the need to manually 'remove' cerumen from the ears. This can result in further impaction and other complications to the ear canal." He said the saying, "Don't put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear," holds true.
Leave your ears aloneFor the everyday individual, the new guidelines suggest you leave your ears alone unless you experience symptoms that you think are associated with too much earwax.
"If they're going to do something at home, they should probably use drops of some sort," Roland said. The panel found no evidence that one type of over-the-counter drops works better than another, or better than just plain sterile water or sterile saline, he said.
The drops help to loosen the earwax and then the ear often can do the rest, he added.
The guidelines also state that cotton-tipped swabs or other objects should not be used to remove earwax. Oral jet irrigators and the alternative medicine technique called ear candling are also strongly advised against.
Ear candling involves making a hollow tube from fabric and soaking that in warm beeswax, which is cooled and hardens. Once cooled and hardened, the beeswax cone is stuck into the ear. The outer end of the tube is lit and burns for about 15 minutes, a process that supposedly draws the wax out of the ear.
Studies have shown, however, that the drawn-out stuff is material from the candle itself. Doctors have also reported seeing patients who have burned the outer parts of their ears with this method.
If the drops don't relieve your symptoms, or if you dislike drops but still have symptoms, it's time to see a doctor, Roland said.
The panel found that three common techniques for earwax removal at the doctor's office work best, with no single method outshining the others. These include flushing the ear out with a water solution; manually removing the earwax under a microscope using medical instruments; and sending the patient home with ear drops.
While at the doctor's office, Roland urges patients not to be embarrassed by a little earwax.
"I get a lot of people in here who are horrified when I see a little wax in their ear, and then they start apologizing for being dirty and they're just very upset it's present at all," Roland said. "And I think the big message there is that it has a physiological function, and unless there's a reason to remove it, you should just leave it alone. It's OK."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26443394/
Monday, September 8, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Hearing Loss, Lack Of Sleep Impair Back-To-School Health
As the new school year approaches, many parents are preparing their children by buying school supplies, new clothes, and organizing fall sporting events. But in order to help kids get a healthy head start to the school year, the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) also recommends taking a closer look at your child's health for common ear, nose, or throat-related health issues that might affect academic success. "Ear, nose, and throat health problems are among the most common medical conditions that children face," says Jay Youngerman, MD, chief of the Division of Otolaryngology at North Shore Hospital at Plainview in New York. "So in addition to the standard back-to-school physical, parents should also consider whether or not their child would also benefit from seeing an otolaryngologist for additional evaluation." Dr. Youngerman cites the following common ENT health concerns in the back-to-school season: 1. Hearing Loss - Hearing difficulty or loss can greatly impact children's performance in school and their ability to interact with peers, and is increasingly a risk because of the popularity of mp3 players. Most children have their hearing evaluated after birth or in the first few years to determine any congenital conditions. However, as hearing loss is also caused by things like infections, trauma, and damaging noise levels, the problem may not emerge until later in childhood. Monitoring a child's hearing ability on a consistent basis can help a parent take action early if an issue should arise. 2. Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea and other Childhood Sleep Disorders - Obstructive sleep apnea, also known as sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is not uncommon in children, but can have a profound impact on their educational experience by causing daytime sleepiness, aggravating attention deficit disorder, and other behavioral issues, along with bed-wetting and slowed growth. The number one indicator of SDB is restless sleep and labored breathing. This includes loud snoring that occurs every night, regardless of sleep position; snoring is then followed by a complete or partial obstruction of breathing, with gasping and snorting noises. 3. Facial Sports Injuries - Many children begin the fall with a variety of team and individual sports programs. These activities are great exercise for kids, but they can result in a variety of injuries to the face, including broken noses and facial abrasions. Many injuries are preventable by wearing the proper protective gear. Check with your child's coach to make sure he/she has and is wearing all the necessary protective equipment. Also check with the coach after each practice to see if your child sustained any injuries while playing. Dr. Youngerman says, "Other common issues like chronic allergies and sinusitis can also make a big impact on back-to-school success. Knowing the signs and symptoms will help a parent take quick action should an ENT health issue arise."
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Ear Infections May Increase Obesity Risk
Aug. 14, 2008 -- Are kids with frequent ear infections at increased risk of becoming overweight later in life?
Early research suggests they are, and that damage to the nerves controlling taste may be to blame.
The research was presented for the first time today at the 116th annual convention of the American Psychological Association in Boston.
Taste researcher Linda M. Bartoshuk, PhD, of the University of Florida College of Dentistry, tells WebMD that over time, frequent ear infections may alter taste perception in a way that leads to a heightened preference for high-fat and highly sweetened foods, which, in turn, leads to obesity.
"Ear infections are relevant to taste because one of the most important taste nerves goes through the middle ear on the way to the brain," she says.
Another taste nerve is in the throat, Bartoshuk says, and researchers also presented findings showing an increased risk for obesity in children who have had tonsillectomies.
Ear Infections and Obesity
Bartoshuk says she first suspected a connection between ear infections and obesity about six years ago after analyzing findings from a survey she conducted to explore taste and health.
About 6,600 adults -- mostly academic professionals -- completed the survey, which included questions about past ear infections and current body mass index (BMI), a measure of obesity.
People with a history of frequent ear infections were found to be 62% more likely to be obese than people who reported no history of ear infection.
"We didn't expect to find ear infections associated with BMI, but that is what we saw," she says.
Bartoshuk then began looking for other research databases that included information on ear infection history and weight.
Several of these studies were presented at today's symposium, along with Bartoshuk's original research.
In one study involving middle-aged women tested for taste sensitivity, those who showed evidence of damage to taste nerves were more likely than women without evidence of nerve damage to prefer high-fat and highly sweetened foods. They were also more likely to have larger waists.
In another study, preschoolers with a history of frequent ear infections were found to eat fewer vegetables and more sweets than children who did not have frequent ear infections. They also tended to be heavier.
Epidemiologist Kathleen Daly, PhD, of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, reported on her work with children up to age 2, suggesting that chronic ear infections prior to this age are associated with higher BMIs (body mass index) around the second birthday.
"All of this is intriguing, but we don't really know what it means yet," Daly says.
Finally, re-examination of data from a large, national health survey conducted in the 1960s found a 30% increase in obesity risk among children who had tonsillectomies.
'Big Leap of Faith'
The research presented in Boston largely involved reanalysis of existing databases.
All agree that studies designed specifically to examine the question of whether chronic ear infections and tonsil surgery play a role in obesity are needed to prove the hypothesis.
"Given the epidemic of obesity in this country and the fact that children are becoming overweight at younger and younger ages, this really should be something we look at more carefully," Daly tells WebMD.
But ear specialist John W. House, MD, of the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles isn't so sure.
"We see thousands of children and adults with chronic ear infections at our clinic every year," he says. "If this association were real we would see it in our patients, but we don't."
University of Pittsburgh ear, nose and throat physician Barry Hirsch, MD, FACS, tells WebMD that the studies presented at the Boston symposium fall far short of proving a link between ear infections, tonsil surgery, and obesity.
House and Hirsch are both spokesmen for the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery.
"It is a big leap of faith to say from this type of research that ear problems cause obesity," he says.
http://children.webmd.com/news/20080814/ear-infections-may-increase-obesity-risk
Early research suggests they are, and that damage to the nerves controlling taste may be to blame.
The research was presented for the first time today at the 116th annual convention of the American Psychological Association in Boston.
Taste researcher Linda M. Bartoshuk, PhD, of the University of Florida College of Dentistry, tells WebMD that over time, frequent ear infections may alter taste perception in a way that leads to a heightened preference for high-fat and highly sweetened foods, which, in turn, leads to obesity.
"Ear infections are relevant to taste because one of the most important taste nerves goes through the middle ear on the way to the brain," she says.
Another taste nerve is in the throat, Bartoshuk says, and researchers also presented findings showing an increased risk for obesity in children who have had tonsillectomies.
Ear Infections and Obesity
Bartoshuk says she first suspected a connection between ear infections and obesity about six years ago after analyzing findings from a survey she conducted to explore taste and health.
About 6,600 adults -- mostly academic professionals -- completed the survey, which included questions about past ear infections and current body mass index (BMI), a measure of obesity.
People with a history of frequent ear infections were found to be 62% more likely to be obese than people who reported no history of ear infection.
"We didn't expect to find ear infections associated with BMI, but that is what we saw," she says.
Bartoshuk then began looking for other research databases that included information on ear infection history and weight.
Several of these studies were presented at today's symposium, along with Bartoshuk's original research.
In one study involving middle-aged women tested for taste sensitivity, those who showed evidence of damage to taste nerves were more likely than women without evidence of nerve damage to prefer high-fat and highly sweetened foods. They were also more likely to have larger waists.
In another study, preschoolers with a history of frequent ear infections were found to eat fewer vegetables and more sweets than children who did not have frequent ear infections. They also tended to be heavier.
Epidemiologist Kathleen Daly, PhD, of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, reported on her work with children up to age 2, suggesting that chronic ear infections prior to this age are associated with higher BMIs (body mass index) around the second birthday.
"All of this is intriguing, but we don't really know what it means yet," Daly says.
Finally, re-examination of data from a large, national health survey conducted in the 1960s found a 30% increase in obesity risk among children who had tonsillectomies.
'Big Leap of Faith'
The research presented in Boston largely involved reanalysis of existing databases.
All agree that studies designed specifically to examine the question of whether chronic ear infections and tonsil surgery play a role in obesity are needed to prove the hypothesis.
"Given the epidemic of obesity in this country and the fact that children are becoming overweight at younger and younger ages, this really should be something we look at more carefully," Daly tells WebMD.
But ear specialist John W. House, MD, of the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles isn't so sure.
"We see thousands of children and adults with chronic ear infections at our clinic every year," he says. "If this association were real we would see it in our patients, but we don't."
University of Pittsburgh ear, nose and throat physician Barry Hirsch, MD, FACS, tells WebMD that the studies presented at the Boston symposium fall far short of proving a link between ear infections, tonsil surgery, and obesity.
House and Hirsch are both spokesmen for the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery.
"It is a big leap of faith to say from this type of research that ear problems cause obesity," he says.
http://children.webmd.com/news/20080814/ear-infections-may-increase-obesity-risk
Friday, July 25, 2008
Central Auditory Processing
We see many people who complain that they are losing hearing but their usual audiometric tests are normal. In most of these cases, it is felt that they are experiencing an age-related decrease in central auditory processing, which makes it more difficult to understand speech in the presence of background noise,. A recent study from Dr Gates at the University of Washington and described in US News & World Report may shed some light on this problem:
Memory Problems Tied to Sound Processing Disorder
Inability to filter out background noise may be indicator of mild impairment, study says
Posted July 22, 2008
TUESDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) -- Mild memory impairment may be associated with a sound processing disorder called central auditory processing dysfunction, say U.S. researchers.
People with the disorder have difficulty hearing in complex situations with competing noise, such as making out what one person is saying while many people in a group are talking at the same time.
"Central auditory processing dysfunction is a general term that is applied to persons whose hearing in quiet settings is normal or near normal yet who have substantial hearing difficulty in the presence of auditory stressors such as competing noise and other difficult listening situations," according to background information in the study. "Central auditory testing is important in evaluating individuals with hearing difficulty, because poor central auditory ability, per se, is not helped by amplification and requires alternative rehabilitation strategies."
Previous research has found that people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia have central auditory processing dysfunction.
This new study by Dr. George A. Gates, of the University of Washington, Seattle, and colleagues included 313 people, average age 80, taking part in a dementia surveillance program that began in 1994. Of the participants, 17 had been diagnosed with dementia, 64 had mild memory impairment, and 232 had no memory problems.
Three tests were used to assess the participants' central auditory processing. In one test, nonsense sentences were read over the background of an interesting narrative. In the other two tests, separate sentences or numbers were read into each ear simultaneously.
"These central auditory processing test paradigms evaluate how well an individual manages competing signals, a task that requires adequate short-term memory and the ability to shift attention rapidly," the researchers noted.
Participants with dementia and mild memory impairment scored significantly lower on the tests than those without memory problems. The findings were published in the July issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.
"Central auditory function was affected by even mild memory impairment," the researchers wrote. "We recommend that central auditory testing be considered in the evaluation of older persons with hearing complaints as part of a comprehensive, individualized program to assist their needs in both the aural rehabilitative and the cognitive domains."
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/07/22/memory-problems-tied-to-sound-processing-disorder.html
Memory Problems Tied to Sound Processing Disorder
Inability to filter out background noise may be indicator of mild impairment, study says
Posted July 22, 2008
TUESDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) -- Mild memory impairment may be associated with a sound processing disorder called central auditory processing dysfunction, say U.S. researchers.
People with the disorder have difficulty hearing in complex situations with competing noise, such as making out what one person is saying while many people in a group are talking at the same time.
"Central auditory processing dysfunction is a general term that is applied to persons whose hearing in quiet settings is normal or near normal yet who have substantial hearing difficulty in the presence of auditory stressors such as competing noise and other difficult listening situations," according to background information in the study. "Central auditory testing is important in evaluating individuals with hearing difficulty, because poor central auditory ability, per se, is not helped by amplification and requires alternative rehabilitation strategies."
Previous research has found that people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia have central auditory processing dysfunction.
This new study by Dr. George A. Gates, of the University of Washington, Seattle, and colleagues included 313 people, average age 80, taking part in a dementia surveillance program that began in 1994. Of the participants, 17 had been diagnosed with dementia, 64 had mild memory impairment, and 232 had no memory problems.
Three tests were used to assess the participants' central auditory processing. In one test, nonsense sentences were read over the background of an interesting narrative. In the other two tests, separate sentences or numbers were read into each ear simultaneously.
"These central auditory processing test paradigms evaluate how well an individual manages competing signals, a task that requires adequate short-term memory and the ability to shift attention rapidly," the researchers noted.
Participants with dementia and mild memory impairment scored significantly lower on the tests than those without memory problems. The findings were published in the July issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.
"Central auditory function was affected by even mild memory impairment," the researchers wrote. "We recommend that central auditory testing be considered in the evaluation of older persons with hearing complaints as part of a comprehensive, individualized program to assist their needs in both the aural rehabilitative and the cognitive domains."
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/07/22/memory-problems-tied-to-sound-processing-disorder.html
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
HPV and Head and Neck Cancer Survival
Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have found a series of markers that indicate which patients are more likely to survive cancers of the base of the tongue and tonsils (Journal of Clinical Oncology, July 1, 2008).
Most notably, they found that cancers linked to HPV, or human papillomavirus, are the most responsive to current chemotherapy and radiation treatments, while tumors that express high levels of a certain growth factor receptor are the least responsive and most deadly.
The researchers call these and other markers a promising step in the direction of tailored, individualized treatment for a type of cancer that can have dramatic impact on essential abilities such as swallowing and speaking.
"The chemotherapy and radiation therapy we use to treat this type of cancer is very aggressive. If we can identify those patients most likely to respond, we could reduce the intensity of the therapy for those likely to have the best outcomes," stated Thomas Carey, PhD, professor and distinguished research scientist at the U-M Kresge Hearing Research Institute and co-director of the head and neck oncology program at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center. "At the same time, we hope to identify new treatments that specifically target those tumors that we know are not responding to current therapies." Dr. Carey was the senior author on both papers.
Cancers of the tonsils and the base of the tongue have increased in recent years, in what Dr. Carey calls an "epidemic" of HPV-induced head and neck cancer. This has occurred at the same time that declines in smoking rates have led to a decrease in the incidence of other types of head and neck cancers. HPV is the virus that can cause cervical cancer and is the target of a new vaccine.
"The biggest challenge is how best to treat patients with tumors that stem from tobacco and alcohol use as opposed to tumors linked to HPV. We now know they're two different cancers," said study author Francis Worden, MD, assistant professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School.
In this study, researchers treated 66 patients with advanced oropharyngeal cancer, which includes cancer of the tonsils and the base of the tongue. Study participants were given an initial course of chemotherapy to gauge the tumor's response. Those whose tumor was reduced by more than half of its original size received a full course of chemotherapy and radiation given simultaneously. Patients whose tumors did not respond were referred for surgery.
Fifty-four of the 66 participants responded to the initial chemotherapy. Of that group, 62 percent are alive today without evidence of cancer, and 73 percent fully preserved their organs.
Participants whose cancer did not respond to the chemotherapy and radiation went on to receive surgery. The researchers found that even with surgery, only 4 of 11 patients survived.
"For most patients, the chemoradiation was very effective. But a subset of patients still do not do well. Our next step was to look at the biomarkers to see if we could determine which patients were responding to treatment, based on the tumor biology," said Dr. Carey, who is also associate chair and professor of otolaryngology and pharmacology at the U-M Medical School.
By looking biopsies taken before treatment, the researchers found 64 percent of the tumors were positive for high-risk strains of HPV. Almost all of the HPV-positive tumors responded to initial chemotherapy and 78 percent of those patients survived with their organs preserved. Of the HPV-negative study participants, only four of 15 survived. In addition, the researchers found that patients whose tumor expressed a marker called EGFR had worse outcomes.
"The combination of markers was an important indicator. Patients whose tumors expressed high levels of EGFR did poorly. But those who had high EGFR and were also HPV-positive had some protection. Patients with high EGFR and low HPV fared the worst. This is a step in the direction of affecting future treatment," said Bhavna Kumar, a research laboratory specialist who was the lead study author.
The researchers also found that tumors with low expression of a protein called p53, combined with high expression of another protein, BCLXL, also had poor outcomes. These markers provide additional targets for potential new therapies.
About 35,300 Americans will be diagnosed with head and neck cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society.
Additional study authors were Julia S. Lee, Gregory T. Wolf, Kitrina G. Cordell, Jeremy M.G. Taylor, Susan G. Urba, Avraham Eisbruch, Theodoros N. Teknos, Douglas B. Chepeha, Mark E. Prince, Christina I. Tsien, Nisha J. D'Silva, Carol R. Bradford, Huong H. Tran, Kun Yang, David M. Kurnit, Joshua A. Bauer, Nancy Wallace, Tamara Miller, and Heidi Mason.
http://speech-language-pathology-audiology.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?cc=117403
Most notably, they found that cancers linked to HPV, or human papillomavirus, are the most responsive to current chemotherapy and radiation treatments, while tumors that express high levels of a certain growth factor receptor are the least responsive and most deadly.
The researchers call these and other markers a promising step in the direction of tailored, individualized treatment for a type of cancer that can have dramatic impact on essential abilities such as swallowing and speaking.
"The chemotherapy and radiation therapy we use to treat this type of cancer is very aggressive. If we can identify those patients most likely to respond, we could reduce the intensity of the therapy for those likely to have the best outcomes," stated Thomas Carey, PhD, professor and distinguished research scientist at the U-M Kresge Hearing Research Institute and co-director of the head and neck oncology program at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center. "At the same time, we hope to identify new treatments that specifically target those tumors that we know are not responding to current therapies." Dr. Carey was the senior author on both papers.
Cancers of the tonsils and the base of the tongue have increased in recent years, in what Dr. Carey calls an "epidemic" of HPV-induced head and neck cancer. This has occurred at the same time that declines in smoking rates have led to a decrease in the incidence of other types of head and neck cancers. HPV is the virus that can cause cervical cancer and is the target of a new vaccine.
"The biggest challenge is how best to treat patients with tumors that stem from tobacco and alcohol use as opposed to tumors linked to HPV. We now know they're two different cancers," said study author Francis Worden, MD, assistant professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School.
In this study, researchers treated 66 patients with advanced oropharyngeal cancer, which includes cancer of the tonsils and the base of the tongue. Study participants were given an initial course of chemotherapy to gauge the tumor's response. Those whose tumor was reduced by more than half of its original size received a full course of chemotherapy and radiation given simultaneously. Patients whose tumors did not respond were referred for surgery.
Fifty-four of the 66 participants responded to the initial chemotherapy. Of that group, 62 percent are alive today without evidence of cancer, and 73 percent fully preserved their organs.
Participants whose cancer did not respond to the chemotherapy and radiation went on to receive surgery. The researchers found that even with surgery, only 4 of 11 patients survived.
"For most patients, the chemoradiation was very effective. But a subset of patients still do not do well. Our next step was to look at the biomarkers to see if we could determine which patients were responding to treatment, based on the tumor biology," said Dr. Carey, who is also associate chair and professor of otolaryngology and pharmacology at the U-M Medical School.
By looking biopsies taken before treatment, the researchers found 64 percent of the tumors were positive for high-risk strains of HPV. Almost all of the HPV-positive tumors responded to initial chemotherapy and 78 percent of those patients survived with their organs preserved. Of the HPV-negative study participants, only four of 15 survived. In addition, the researchers found that patients whose tumor expressed a marker called EGFR had worse outcomes.
"The combination of markers was an important indicator. Patients whose tumors expressed high levels of EGFR did poorly. But those who had high EGFR and were also HPV-positive had some protection. Patients with high EGFR and low HPV fared the worst. This is a step in the direction of affecting future treatment," said Bhavna Kumar, a research laboratory specialist who was the lead study author.
The researchers also found that tumors with low expression of a protein called p53, combined with high expression of another protein, BCLXL, also had poor outcomes. These markers provide additional targets for potential new therapies.
About 35,300 Americans will be diagnosed with head and neck cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society.
Additional study authors were Julia S. Lee, Gregory T. Wolf, Kitrina G. Cordell, Jeremy M.G. Taylor, Susan G. Urba, Avraham Eisbruch, Theodoros N. Teknos, Douglas B. Chepeha, Mark E. Prince, Christina I. Tsien, Nisha J. D'Silva, Carol R. Bradford, Huong H. Tran, Kun Yang, David M. Kurnit, Joshua A. Bauer, Nancy Wallace, Tamara Miller, and Heidi Mason.
http://speech-language-pathology-audiology.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?cc=117403
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Pacifier ("Dummy") may aggravate ear infections!!
From the BBC and the Dutch...
Dummy use link to ear infections
By Emma Wilkinson
Health reporter, BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7463911.stm
Parents should avoid using a dummy (i.e. pacifier) in infants who are prone to ear infections, research suggests.
In a five-year study of almost 500 Dutch children, researchers found almost double the risk of recurrent ear infections in those who used a dummy.
Writing in the Family Practice journal they said doctors should advise parents of the risk.
Scientifically known as acute otitis media, ear infections are very common in young children.
Antibiotics do not generally work and the infection tends clear on its own within a few days but some children are prone to repeated bouts.
"This is a very useful piece of research that shows use of dummies in children under the age of four who have a history of ear infections is not a good idea," stated Professor Steve Field, Royal College of GPs.
The researchers from University Medical Center, Utrecht said some studies before had found a link between dummy use and ear infections but they had not been very accurate.
Their research followed 476 children aged under four years, 216 of whom used a dummy.
There was a 90% increased risk of recurrent ear infections in those who sucked a dummy compared with those who did not.
Susceptibility
The researchers said results suggested that the first infection may increase susceptibility to future ear infections.
And using a dummy may allow bacteria to more easily migrate from secretions in the nose to the middle ear, they suggested.
Study leader, Dr Maroeska Rovers, said: "Paediatricians and GPs can use this information in their daily practice - they can dissuade parents from using a pacifier [dummy] once their child has been diagnosed with acute otitis media to avoid recurrent episodes."
Professor Steve Field, chair of the Royal College of GPs said there had been previous studies but they had not been put together very well.
"This is a very useful piece of research that shows use of dummies in children under the age of four who have a history of ear infections is not a good idea.
"There's no need to panic but - in those children - not using a dummy is likely to prevent recurrence."
Dummy use link to ear infections
By Emma Wilkinson
Health reporter, BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7463911.stm
Parents should avoid using a dummy (i.e. pacifier) in infants who are prone to ear infections, research suggests.
In a five-year study of almost 500 Dutch children, researchers found almost double the risk of recurrent ear infections in those who used a dummy.
Writing in the Family Practice journal they said doctors should advise parents of the risk.
Scientifically known as acute otitis media, ear infections are very common in young children.
Antibiotics do not generally work and the infection tends clear on its own within a few days but some children are prone to repeated bouts.
"This is a very useful piece of research that shows use of dummies in children under the age of four who have a history of ear infections is not a good idea," stated Professor Steve Field, Royal College of GPs.
The researchers from University Medical Center, Utrecht said some studies before had found a link between dummy use and ear infections but they had not been very accurate.
Their research followed 476 children aged under four years, 216 of whom used a dummy.
There was a 90% increased risk of recurrent ear infections in those who sucked a dummy compared with those who did not.
Susceptibility
The researchers said results suggested that the first infection may increase susceptibility to future ear infections.
And using a dummy may allow bacteria to more easily migrate from secretions in the nose to the middle ear, they suggested.
Study leader, Dr Maroeska Rovers, said: "Paediatricians and GPs can use this information in their daily practice - they can dissuade parents from using a pacifier [dummy] once their child has been diagnosed with acute otitis media to avoid recurrent episodes."
Professor Steve Field, chair of the Royal College of GPs said there had been previous studies but they had not been put together very well.
"This is a very useful piece of research that shows use of dummies in children under the age of four who have a history of ear infections is not a good idea.
"There's no need to panic but - in those children - not using a dummy is likely to prevent recurrence."
Thursday, June 19, 2008
We are now on Google Maps and Streetview!!!
So Google sent people driving around and photographing the views from many streets in many areas. If you go to Google maps you can see that the streets with the blue line have the street view available. Now our office maps correctly and you can even see our building!
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