A 9-year-old child with Down syndrome presents with bilateral conductive hearing loss and bilateral otorrhoea for 2 years. Tympanometry shows bilateral Type B curves. The underlying mechanism favouring chronic otitis media in this child is:
- A Immunodeficiency due to absent thymus
- B Hypermotility of Eustachian tube causing reflux
- C Horizontal and short Eustachian tube with poor tensor veli palatini function ✓
- D Absent mastoid air cell system
Correct answer: C. Horizontal and short Eustachian tube with poor tensor veli palatini function
Explanation
Children with Down syndrome (trisomy 21) have a high prevalence of chronic otitis media with effusion because of multiple predisposing factors: a hypoplastic and relatively horizontal Eustachian tube, hypotonia of the tensor veli palatini muscle (which normally opens the tube during swallowing), midface hypoplasia reducing Eustachian tube patency, and frequent upper respiratory tract infections due to immune dysregulation. Grommets (tympanostomy tubes) are frequently required.
Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.