Determining risk for chronic otitis media with effusion.
Chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) has been observed in 10 to 20% of children following acute, symptomatic otitis media. To determine factors that place children at increased risk of chronic OME, we conducted a 6-week prospective study of 386 children who had 3 or more recent episodes of otitis media and who had middle ear effusion present for at least 2 weeks. Of these children 23% developed chronic OME (i.e. effusion lasting 8 continuous weeks or more), and 26% developed chronic OME complicated by acute, symptomatic otitis media. Predictors for chronic OME were (1) bilateral OME, (2) duration of effusion for greater than 2 weeks at enrollment and (3) day care attendance. Children with these 3 factors had twice the risk of developing chronic OME as children lacking all 3 factors. These risk factors can be used to target children for early, aggressive OME therapy.
Daly
K
K
School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Giebink
G S
GS
Le
C T
CT
Lindgren
B
B
Batalden
P B
PB
Anderson
R S
RS
Russ
J N
JN
D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors