EarPopper Use in Otitis Media                         Orient Journal of Medicine             Vol 33 [1-2] Jan-June, 2021
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Use of EarPopper® for The Treatment of Otitis Media with Effusion: A First Pilot Study in Africa 
Titus S IBEKWE1,2
Enoch A DAHILO1
David O FOLORUNSHO1
Toochukwu UZOCHUKWU1
Bosa EGBE1
Oladeji R QUADRI1
Frederick DAMTONG1
Basil C NWANKWO1
Iboro ETUKUMANA1
Ibeneche O GBUJIE1,3

1Department of Otorhinolaryngology
University of Abuja & University of Abuja
Teaching Hospital Abuja, NIGERIA

2Garki Hospital Abuja
3Abuja Clinic Abuja

Author for Correspondence
Prof Titus IBEKWE
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital
Gwagwalada Abuja
PMB 228 Abuja, NIGERIA

Email: titus.ibekwe@uniabuja.edu.ng
Phone: +234 803 348 4380

Received: January 25th, 2021
Accepted: February 10th, 2021

DISCLOSURE
Authors declare no conflict of interest or financial support for the study
ABSTRACT

Background: A missed or non-diagnosed otitis media with effusion at very early age in life can impair the cognitive developmental milestone, especially hearing. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment (medical, surgical or physiological) is pertinent. A search for an inexpensive, minimally invasive method led to the development of EarPopper®
Methodology: A prospective interventional study on the use of EarPopper® in the treatment of otitis media with effusion. The EarPopper® uses the Politzer method of pressure equilibration to decongest the middle ear through the Eustachian tube.
Result: Seven patients (4 males, 3 females) aged between 11 and 54 years were enrolled. Five were bilateral and 2 were unilateral (12 ears). All had type B curves and mild to moderate conductive hearing loss. The pre-therapy EarPopper Scoring System were 60-98%, while the post therapy result dropped to 0-25%.
Conclusion: The EarPopper® showed a good prospect in the treatment of otitis media with effusion in an African population.

Key words Otorhinolaryngologic diseases, EarPopper Scoring System, Pilot study, Ear diseases, Otitis media