Background: Earlier studies indicate that respiratory viruses may play a role in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME).
Objectives: To study the presence of rhinovirus RNA in middle ear mucosa in children with OME without signs of present acute infection.
Methods: Eighteen children scheduled for tympanostomy tube placement due to longstanding OME were recruited and a biopsy of the promontory mucosa was obtained. In addition, adenoidectomy was performed for eight of these children and a biopsy of adenoid tissue was taken as well. The samples were collected from December to May. Rhinovirus RNA was studied by in situ hybridization (ISH).
Results: Seven out of eight adenoid biopsies were positive for rhinovirus by ISH. However, rhinovirus RNA was not found in any of the 18 middle ear biopsies.
Conclusions: These results show that children with longstanding OME do not have a rhinovirus infection in the middle ear mucosa, although the same children frequently harbor large amounts of rhinovirus RNA in their adenoid tissue.