Evil gene may cause hearing impairment and glue ear

A gene called Evi1 may be responsible for glue ear, an inflammation of the middle ear that causes hearing impairment of babies under a year old, say scientists.

The inflammation, also called otitis media, often begins when infections that cause sore throats, colds, or other breathing problems spread to the middle ear - the part of the ear that lies behind the eardrum. Professor Steven Brown, and colleagues at the Medical Research Council Mammalian Genetics Unit, studied a mouse with hearing loss, which they called Junbo. Like some children with otitis media, the Junbo mouse had severe, recurrent glue ear, reported the online edition of BBC News.

Scientists have known for some time that genes play a role in otitis media, but until now they have been unable to pinpoint the exact pathways involved. “Because the Junbo mouse provides a model of how otitis media affects children, I hope that it will help researchers to figure out new ways to tackle this disease,” Brown said.

 An alternative treatment for ear infection is the Eardoc  a non invasive drug free solution to open.

from:www.thenews.com.pk