Correlation between cow’s milk protein allergy and otitis media: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES: To review the evidence pertaining to the association between cow’s milk protein allergy and recurrent acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion. METHODS: The CENTRAL, Web of Science, EMBASE, MEDLINE, LILACS databases, and gray literature were searched. RESULTS: Four studies were included, identifying the prevalence rates: 0.2% of delayed speech due to chronic otitis media with effusion in 382 children with cow’s milk protein allergy, 10.7% of cow’s milk protein allergy in 242 children who underwent ENT procedures, 40% of cow’s milk protein allergy in 25 children with recurrent otitis media with effusion and higher tendency to otitis media in children with cow’s milk protein allergy of 186 children (1.5 + 0.6 vs. 0.4 + 0.1; p < 0.1). CONCLUSION: Considering the characteristics and methodological variations of the identified studies, it is not possible to state that there is reliable evidence of an association between cow’s milk protein allergy and otitis media.