A population study of otitis media in childhood.
A total of 494 children with an average age of 3 1/2 years were studied with a view to elucidating the frequency of both acute and secretory otitis media and their relationship, if any, to a number of social factors. Of the children, 41% had had at least one attack of otitis media, in 49% of these associated with aural discharge. 70% of the children were attending day-care centres, and the incidence of otitis media was highest in this group. According to Jerger's classification of the tympanometric curves, 51% of these were of type A, 17% of type B, and 32% of type C. Significantly higher frequencies of types B and C curves were found among children attending day-care centres.
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000367:Age Factors; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies