Abstract
AOM is generally considered to be a bacterial disease. We studied 71 infants and children (1 mo. to 9 yr.) with AOM for evidence of viral infection. During a 2 year period, middle ear fluids (MEF) were cultured for bacteria and viruses and nasal washings (NW) were cultured for viruses. Seventy-nine pathogens were isolated from MEF of 58(82%) cases: 27 strains of H. influenzae; 23 S. pneumoniae; 9 Neisseria; 5 influenza virus (infl); 3 rhino-virus (rhino); 3 enterovirus (entero); 3 S. aureus; 2 S. pyogenes: 2 gram negative bacilli; 1 respiratory syncytial virus(RSV); 1 parainfluenza virus (para). One pathogen was found in MEF of 39 (55%) cases, 2 pathogens in 17 (24%) and 3 pathogens in 2(3%).
In 10 of 13 cases the virus in MEF was found in NW. Two had the virus (infl, rhino) in both MEF and NW but no bacteria in MEF. An additional 11 cases had 12 viruses in NW, 2 (adeno and para) had no pathogen in MEF. Total of 24(34%) cases of AOM had viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Presence of virus in MEF/NW for rhino was 3/3, infl 5/9, para 1/2, entero 1/3, RSV 0/1,adeno 0/1 and CMV 0/3. AOM is often a result of combined viral and bacterial infection although virus alone can cause AOM. Ototropic viruses include rhino, infl, and entero. The relative contribution of viral and bacterial pathogens to the development of AOM requires further study.
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Chonmaitree, T., Howie, V. & Truant, A. 768 PRESENCE OF RESPIRATORY VIRUSES DURING ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA (AOM). Pediatr Res 19, 238 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00798
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00798