Abstract
This retrospective study of OME was undertaken to examine the relationship between age of onset of otitis, allergic history, prematurity, and recurrent and/or chronic otitis media. Included in the study were 341 children seen at the ENT Clinic with a history of acute serous, secretory, or chronic otitis media, born after January 1, 1974. A total of 1786 episodes were documented in charts. Otitis media with serous effusion (SOM) accounted for 36% of the episodes and otitis media with purulent effusion (AOM) accounted for 60%. Four percent of the episodes had SOM in one ear and AOM in the other. AOM developed in 34% of the episodes of SOM. Mean duration of SOM and AOM from onset to total resolution was 43 and 18.2 days respectively. In those episodes of SOM that developed acute otitis, the mean duration prior to becoming an acute otitis was 28.3 days. The durations of the hearing loss associated with SOM and AOM were 56.1 and 23 days respectively. Positive history of allergy increases the risk of recurrent otitis media in the second year of life. Prematurity does not appear to increase the frequency of otitis media in the first two years of life. Frequency of otitis media following the onset of OME is not affected by the timing of age of onset within the first two years. Timing of exposure to upper respiratory tract season appears to be a significant variable in determining age of onset and frequency of OME.
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Berman, S., King, J. & South, J. 990 THE RELATIONSHIP OF AGE OF ONSET OF OTITIS, ALLERGIC HISTORY, AND PREMATURITY TO RECURRENT OTITIS MEDIA. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 607 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01015
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01015