CILIARY BEAT FREQUENCY OF NASAL AND MIDDLE-EAR MUCOSA IN CHILDREN WITH OTITIS-MEDIA WITH EFFUSION

Abstract

Impaired mucociliary function of respiratory tract mucosa is associated with secretory otitis media in some well recognized syndromes. Ciliary activity per se may now be assessed directly by determination of ciliary beat frequency by a photoelectric technique. 49 children with otitis media with effusion undergoing surgical treatment were studied. Middle ear mucosa and nasal epithelial cells were obtained by biopsy and cytological brushings respectively at the time of surgery (myringotomy +/- grommet insertion under general anaesthesia). From these samples mean nasal ciliary beat frequency was 11.0 Hz and mean middle ear ciliary beat frequency was 11.2 Hz. A positive correlation exists betwee..