Influenza A vaccine decreases the incidence of otitis media in 6- to 30-month-old children in day care.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the use of influenza vaccine in children in day care decreases the incidence of otitis media during the influenza season.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Eight day-care centers in North Carolina.


METHODS
One hundred eighty-six children aged 6 to 30 months.


METHODS
Half the participants received trivalent subvirion influenza virus vaccine.


METHODS
Acute otitis media (AOM) and serous otitis media (SOM) were assessed biweekly from mid-November 1993 to mid-March 1994 by visual and tympanometric examinations performed by "blinded" observers. The winter season was divided into three periods-before, during, and after influenza season--and the number of children with AOM or SOM during each period was determined. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were computed, while controlling for race and sex using logistic regression methods.


RESULTS
Influenza vaccine was protective against AOM (OR = 0.69, 95% CI, 0.49-0.98) during the influenza season. Although there may have been some protection against SOM (OR = 0.75, 95% CI, 0.54-1.02) statistical significance was not achieved. Myringotomy tubes were also significantly protective against AOM and SOM during all three time periods, with ORs between 0.34 and 0.52, but the greatest protection was seen during the influenza period.


CONCLUSIONS
Influenza vaccination of 6- to 30-month-old children in day care was associated with a decreased incidence of otitis media during the influenza season. Myringotomy tubes protected against AOM and SOM during all 16 weeks monitored.
Clements
D A
DA
Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, USA.
Langdon
L
L
Bland
C
C
Walter
E
E
D000208:Acute Disease; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D009980:Influenza A virus; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D007252:Influenza Vaccines