Paediatric Otorrhoea

Paediatric Otorrhoea: Understanding the burden of disease and acceptability of non-surgical management options

Type: Research (Qualitative patient and health professional interviews)

Funder: NIHR Research for Patient Benefit

Sponsor: MFT              

Background

Ear infections are common in children and young people. During an infection the ear drum can burst, causing infected smelly fluid to leak out of the ear. This fluid is called otorrhoea. If the infection is not treated, the ear may continue to leak for weeks or months. It may also cause hearing loss, which might make it harder for children to develop speech and language skills. Rarely, more serious complications can occur. Despite ear infections and otorrhoea being common in children, we do not know how many children and young people in the UK have the condition, or how it affects their lives.

Methods

We will use the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and patient interviews to identify the incidence and impact of paediatric otorrhoea respectively.

How we have Involved the Public

To make the study patient centered, children and young people who have (or have had) otorrhoea, as well as their parents/carers have shared their experiences. We will continue to work together with children and young people and their parents/carers throughout this study to ensure the research is focused on what matters the most to patients.

How we will Share the Results

We will share the findings with the patients and medical professionals who took part in the study. Results of this study will also be presented at medical conferences, published in medical journals and on the sponsor’s research webpage and social media accounts. We will work with the Dipex charity, who help communicate health research to the public, to improve awareness of the research findings. Once we have determined the best way to manage otorrhoea, we aim to describe the findings using animations for children and young people and their parents/carers.

Further information

Elliot.heward@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk