Most likely, your doctor is ignoring this science...
Role
of Food Allergy in Serous Otitis Media.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1995 Mar;74(3):277-8.
Nsouli
TM, Nsouli SM, Linde RE, O'Mara F, Scanlon RT, Bellanti JA.
Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University School
of Medicine, Washington, DC.
BACKGROUND. The relationship between IgE-mediated
hypersensitivity and recurrent serous otitis media has not been completely established.
OBJECTIVE. The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence
of food allergy in patients with recurrent serous otitis media. METHODS. A total of 104 unselected patients (age range 1.5
to 9 years, mean 4.6 years) with recurrent serous otitis media were evaluated for food allergy by means of skin prick testing,
specific IgE tests, and food challenge. Patients who were allergic to food(s) underwent an exclusion diet of the specific
offending food(s) for a period of 16 weeks. A non-double blinded food challenge was performed with the suspected offending
food(s). Their middle ear effusion was monitored and assessed by tympanometry (Welch Allyn Model 23600) during the pre-elimination,
elimination and challenge diet phases.
RESULTS. There was a significant statistical association, between food allergy and recurrent serous otitis media
in 81/104 patients (78%). The elimination diet led to a significant amelioration of serous otitis media in 70/81 (86%) patients
as assessed by clinical evaluation and tympanometry. The challenge diet with the suspected offending food(s) provoked a recurrence
of serous otitis media in 66/70 patients (94%).
CONCLUSIONS. The possibility of food allergy should be considered in all pediatric patients with recurrent
serous otitis media and a diligent search for the putative food allergen made for proper diagnostic and therapeutic intervention.
RESULTS...
1) Stuffed-up noses cause fluid from the throat to move into the middle ear.
2) Nasal fluids
drain into the Eustachian tube.
3) Or that tube swells shut because of an allergic reaction, causing a negative pressure
in the middle ear.
Frequency Distribution of Allergies
to Individual Foods in 81 Subjects with Food Allergy:
Cow milk-- 38%
Wheat-- 33%
egg
white-- 25%
peanut-- 20%
soy-- 17%
corn--
15%
orange-- 10%
chicken-- 5%
Apple--
4%
Frequency Distribution of Positive Reactions to Foods in Study Population According to Number of Food
Allergens:
No of Positive Food Allergens:
(1)-- 3.6%
(2-4)-- 81.5%
(5-7)-- 3.7%
(8-10)-- 1.3%
