Pediatric Necrotizing Otitis Externa: A Scoping Review.
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This review sought to answer the following research question: What are the characteristics of pediatric necrotizing otitis externa (NOE)? Moreover, we wanted to highlight the clinical importance of the current limitations in the literature.
METHODS: A scoping review was performed to determine what is known about NOE in the pediatric population. Four databases (COCHRANE Library, CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus) were queried for articles published in English between 1976 to 2022. Variables extracted included comorbidities, demographics, outcomes, and treatment.
RESULTS: A total of 20 studies (N = 439) reported sufficient measures to be included in the review. Patients with NOE had a mean age of 10.0 years (range 2 months to 14 years) with a male-to-female gender ratio of 1.1:1. Mean length of hospital stay was 2.9 days (95%CI: 2.7-3.0). Demographics included 45.4% Caucasian, 6.0% African American, and 2.7% Asian/Pacific Islander. Less than 5% of patients had diabetes, while other reported comorbidities included neutropenia (n = 6), anemia (n = 5), dehydration/malnutrition (n = 4), Stevens Johnson Syndrome (n = 2), some form of immunosuppression/organ transplantation (n = 2), thrombocytopenia (n = 2), and leukopenia (n = 2). There have been no reported deaths from NOE in children.
CONCLUSIONS: In the adult population NOE most commonly affects patients with diabetes, but our review reveals that diabetes does not appear to play as big a role in children. The disease seems to commonly affect patients with immunosuppression or severe health conditions. Complications such as cranial nerve palsies appear to be more common in the pediatric population. Specifically, the role of biopsy and culture in the treatment of pediatric NOE is stressed as they are important in treatment decisions.
First Page
947
Last Page
955
DOI
10.1177/00034894241280537
Publication Date
11-1-2024
Recommended Citation
Khokhar ZA, Mills JF, Nguyen SA, White DR, Robbins WK, Meyer TA. Pediatric Necrotizing Otitis Externa: A Scoping Review. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2024 Nov;133(11):947-955. doi: 10.1177/00034894241280537. Epub 2024 Sep 17. PMID: 39289874.