Background: allergic rhinitis is a common childhood disease responsible for a major impact on quality of life and health care resources. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain the link between allergy and otitis media, although a definitive mechanism has not been identified yet. One of the major critical points is that authors failed in distinguishing among different phenotypes of middle ear inflammation. This review pointed out evidence from the laboratory and clinical experience to link allergy to different phenotypes of otitis media in children. Methods: we performed a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) process. Our search yielded 3010 articles that were finally screened. This resulted in 20 publications of which the full texts included for the qualitative analysis based on different phenotypes of otitis media. Results: clinical evidences and analyses of biomarkers suggested that allergy may be linked to some phenotypes of otitis media and, in particular, to otitis media with effusion and acute re-exacerbations in children with middle ear effusion. It was not possible to perform the analysis for allergy and acute and chronic otitis media because of paucity and heterogeneity of data. Conclusion: Allergy should be considered in the diagnostic work up of different phenotypes of otitis media. Clinicians should evaluate prompt and accurate treatment of allergy in improving outcomes, although futures studies are required to increase evidence supporting that anti-allergy treatment may be effective in the recovery and outcome of otitis media with effusion.

Background. Irreversible bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is a common side effect of platinum compounds. Because of extended overall survival period of children, a prolonged hearing surveillance and management of hearing impairments are emerging concerns for pediatric oncology. Methods. In this retrospective observational study we enrolled 38 children out of 116 treated at our institution by chemotherapy (cisplatin and/or carboplatin) with or without irradiation between 2007–2014, and submitted to hearing monitoring before every cycle of chemotherapy and that completed a 5 years long-term follow-up. Chemotherapy regimens, demographic findings, cumulative doses and cranial irradiation were compared. Results. At the end of 5-years follow-up ototoxicity was significantly increased compared to that at observed the end of chemotherapy (52.5% vs 39.5%, p<0.001). A late onset of hearing loss was experienced in 13.1% of children while in 26.3% progressive hearing loss was measured. Deafness at the end of chemotherapy and irradiation was significant prognostic factor for late ototoxicity outcomes (Odds Ratio 7.2 – CI:1.67–31.1 – p<0.01 and 5.25 – CI:1.26–21.86 – p<0.01 respectively). No significant differences were found between cisplatin and combined treatment (i.e. cisplatin shifted to carboplatin during monitoring for the onset of ototoxicity) and ototoxicity was not associated with platinum compounds cumulative dose (p>0.05). 13.1% of children needed hearing aids at the end of follow-up. Conclusions. Our study confirms the effectiveness of long-term follow-up in identifying late onset/progressive hearing loss after platinum compound chemotherapy and allows us to avoid the harmful effects of hearing deprivation with hearing aid intervention.