ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Surg.

Sec. Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2025.1515724

This article is part of the Research TopicExploring Neurotological Health Concerns Post-COVID-19 InfectionView all 3 articles

Analyzing the Characteristics of Otitis Media with Effusion Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in China

Provisionally accepted
Li  XinxinLi Xinxin1*Liu  Yan FangLiu Yan Fang1Tan  MinxingTan Minxing1Zeng  XuanfuZeng Xuanfu1Muhammad Asad  IqbalMuhammad Asad Iqbal2*Jiang  GuochangJiang Guochang1*
  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Jiangsu University Affiliated People's Hospital, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
  • 2School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China., Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

ObjectiveThis study investigates the characteristics of Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) secondary to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic,  and examines whether SARS-CoV-2  is present in middle ear effusions (MEE).MethodsWe analyzed patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 who presented with ear fullness between December 15, 2022, and January 20, 2023. After obtaining a detailed medical history and conducting audiometric assessments, we confirmed OME and performed tympanocentesis to test for SARS-CoV-2 in the MEE following informed consent. Post-procedure, patients received nasal decongestants and oral/nasal corticosteroids. Follow-up consultations, tympanic membrane examinations, and audiometric evaluations were conducted 2–4 weeks later, with a final assessment at three months.ResultsOur clinic recorded 311 OME cases during the study period, accounting for 9.5% of all patients—a significant increase from 2.2% the previous year and 2.5% the following year. The peak incidence occurred one week post-infection. Among the 311 patients, 52 underwent tympanocentesis (33 males, 19 females). 20 patients had bilateral onset, while 32 had unilateral onset. 31 patients were cured after a single tympanocentesis, whereas 21 required two or more procedures. 17 patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the MEE, but only one simultaneously tested positive in nasal secretions.At the three-month follow-up, 59.6% of patients were cured, 30.8% showed improvement without full recovery, and 9.6% had no improvement. Factors such as poor mastoid pneumatization, nasopharyngeal obstruction, and comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes) affected treatment efficacy. Among the 52 patients, 37 had conductive hearing loss (CHL), and 15 had mixed hearing loss (MHL).ConclusionsSARS-CoV-2 contributes to OME, primarily affecting one ear. The virus persists longer in MEE than in the upper respiratory tract, suggesting slower viral clearance in the middle ear compared to the nasopharynx. Conductive hearing loss (CHL) is the most common type post-infection, but mixed hearing loss (MHL) can also occur, particularly in older patients, with less favorable outcomes compared to CHL.Keywords: Otitis Media with Effusion (OME); COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Conductive hearing loss; Mixed hearing loss, Middle ear effusion (MEE)

Keywords: Otitis media with effusion (OME), COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Conductive hearing loss, Mixed hearing loss, Middle ear effusion (MEE)

Received: 23 Oct 2024; Accepted: 28 Apr 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Xinxin, Fang, Minxing, Xuanfu, Iqbal and Guochang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence:
Li Xinxin, Department of Otolaryngology, Jiangsu University Affiliated People's Hospital, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
Muhammad Asad Iqbal, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China., Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
Jiang Guochang, Department of Otolaryngology, Jiangsu University Affiliated People's Hospital, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China

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