Correlation of Otolaryngological Disorders and Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

To determine the frequency of otolaryngological disorders in patients with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) as compared to controls. In this case-control study, 80 children with CNLDO (cases) and 80 children without CNLDO (controls) were examined for ophthalmological and otolaryngological dosirders. Data analysis was performed using Pearson Chi-square and Fisher exact tests for frequency values and t-test for mean values. Mean age was 22.7±14.3 (range 5-72) months in the case group and 23.4±13.7 (range 9-72) months in controls (P=0.76). CNLDO was bilateral in 7 (8.75%), left-sided in 23 (28.75%) and right-sided in 50 (62.5%) cases. There were no significant differences between cases and controls in nasal, oral and external ear examinations, however otitis media with effusion (OME) was found in 26.3% of cases vs 10% in controls (P=0.01). Odds ratio for OME in the CNLDO group was 3.2 (95% confidence interval, 1.32-7.75). Tympanometry was type A in 71.3%, type B in 22.5%, type C in 5% and unrecordable in 1.3% of cases compared to type A in 88.8% and type B in 11.2% of controls (P=0.01). The incidence of asymptomatic OME in patients with CNLDO is higher than controls therefore, children with CNLDO may need screening for OME for timely diagnosis and treatment.