Browsing by Author "Othman, Deema"

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Accuracy of Video Otoscopy in Predicting the Presence of Middle Ear Effusion in Children Compared to Tympanometry: A Diagnostic Study
(2024-11) Othman, Deema; Alashkar, Masa; Bitar, Mohamad A
Importance: Middle ear effusion (MEE) is the primary cause of conductive hearing impairment among children, predominantly occurring up to the age of two years. The gold standard for detecting MEE is tympanometry (Grayson-Stadler, Eden Prairie, Minnesota). This study explores a less costly alternative, the video otoscope (Inventis S.R.L, Padova, Italy). Objective: The primary objective is to compare video otoscopy with tympanometry in terms of its ability to diagnose MEE. The secondary objective is to explore the prevalence of MEE in special populations. Methods: We conducted a retrospective diagnostic study that included patients aged 0-18 years who visited the pediatric otolaryngology clinic for suspected MEE over a two-year period. Clinical presentation, otoscopy findings, and tympanometry results were reviewed. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24 (Released 2016; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York). The significance of the results was assessed using the chi-squared test. Results: We included 337 patients with a mean age of 5.1 years (standard deviation = 2.68); 967 tympanometry tests were available for comparison with the corresponding ears. Validity tests showed that the sensitivity of video otoscopy was 79.5%, the specificity was 56.9%, the positive predictive value was 89.6%, and the negative predictive value was 37.4%. The overall accuracy was 75.5%. These results were statistically significant. Conclusion: Video otoscopy was capable of diagnosing MEE in children 89.6% of the time. However, tympanometry is still needed in specific conditions, such as narrow ear canals, dull tympanic membranes, and clear tympanic membranes in patients with decreased hearing, a history of ear infections, or speech delay.
Post-Meningitic Syndrome: Pathophysiology and Consequences of Streptococcal Infections on the Central Nervous System.
(2024-10-15) Kaddoura, Rachid; Abdalbari, Karim; Badla, Beshr Abdulaziz; Hijleh, Amin Abu; Hanifa, Mohamed; AlAshkar, Masa; Asbaita, Mohamed; Othman, Deema; Faraji, Hanan; AlBakri, Orjwan; Tahlak, Sara; Hijleh, Amir Abu; Kabbani, Raneem; Resen, Murtadha; Du Plessis, Stefan S; Omolaoye, Temidayo S
Streptococcus species represent a significant global cause of meningitis, leading to brain damage through bacterial virulence factors and the host inflammatory response. Upon entering the central nervous system (CNS), excessive inflammation leads to various neurological and psychological complications. This review explores the pathophysiological mechanisms and associated outcomes of streptococcal meningitis, particularly its short- and long-term neurological sequelae. Neurological symptoms, such as cognitive impairment, motor deficits, and sensory loss, are shown to vary in severity, with children being particularly susceptible to lasting complications. Among survivors, hearing loss, cognitive decline, and cranial nerve palsies emerge as the most frequently reported complications. The findings highlight the need for timely intervention, including neurorehabilitation strategies that focus on optimizing recovery and mitigating long-term disabilities. Future recommendations emphasize improving early diagnosis, expanding vaccine access, and personalizing rehabilitation protocols to enhance patient outcomes. As a novel contribution, this review proposes the term "post-meningitic syndrome" to showcase the broad spectrum of CNS complications that persist following streptococcal meningitis, providing a framework for a future clinical and research focus.
Post-Meningitic Syndrome: Pathophysiology and Consequences of Streptococcal Infections on the Central Nervous System.
(2024-10-15) Kaddoura, Rachid; Abdalbari, Karim; Badla, Beshr Abdulaziz; Hijleh, Amin Abu; Hanifa, Mohamed; AlAshkar, Masa; Asbaita, Mohamed; Othman, Deema; Faraji, Hanan; AlBakri, Orjwan; Tahlak, Sara; Hijleh, Amir Abu; Kabbani, Raneem; Resen, Murtadha; Du Plessis, Stefan S; Omolaoye, Temidayo S
Streptococcus species represent a significant global cause of meningitis, leading to brain damage through bacterial virulence factors and the host inflammatory response. Upon entering the central nervous system (CNS), excessive inflammation leads to various neurological and psychological complications. This review explores the pathophysiological mechanisms and associated outcomes of streptococcal meningitis, particularly its short- and long-term neurological sequelae. Neurological symptoms, such as cognitive impairment, motor deficits, and sensory loss, are shown to vary in severity, with children being particularly susceptible to lasting complications. Among survivors, hearing loss, cognitive decline, and cranial nerve palsies emerge as the most frequently reported complications. The findings highlight the need for timely intervention, including neurorehabilitation strategies that focus on optimizing recovery and mitigating long-term disabilities. Future recommendations emphasize improving early diagnosis, expanding vaccine access, and personalizing rehabilitation protocols to enhance patient outcomes. As a novel contribution, this review proposes the term "post-meningitic syndrome" to showcase the broad spectrum of CNS complications that persist following streptococcal meningitis, providing a framework for a future clinical and research focus.