title: Incidence of acute otitis media associated with group A and B respiratory syncytial virus infections.
abstract: The comparative association of respiratory syncytial virus group A and B infections with acute otitis media was determined by analysing the hospital records of children with community-acquired respiratory syncytial virus infection during three successive outbreaks from 1987 to 1992. Of 326 episodes analysed, 192 (59%) were caused by group A and 134 (41%) by group B infections. Acute otitis media was diagnosed in 101 (75%) children with group B infection, compared with 119 (62%) with group A infection (p = 0.01). Group A infections were more often associated with wheezing (71% versus 59% in group B; p = 0.02) and oxygen therapy in inpatients (48% versus 31%, respectively; p = 0.008). The higher incidence of acute otitis media associated with group B infections was observed both after adjustment for potential confounding variables and during each outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heikkinen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waris
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ruuskanen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Putto-Laurila
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mertsola
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human