Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine for prevention of otitis media in children.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine in preventing acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME) in children aged 6 to 60 months who attend day care.


METHODS
This prospective, single-blind study was conducted in 8 day care centers in Ankara, Turkey. One hundred nineteen (61 vaccinated and 58 unvaccinated against influenza) healthy children were examined at study entry and at 6-week intervals for 6 months by the same 2 otorhinolaryngologists who were blinded about the vaccination status of the children. The frequency of AOM and OME is compared between the 2 groups and the effect of influenza season on frequency of episodes was evaluated. Based on national influenza laboratory data, the influenza season was determined to be the period between December 15, 2003, and January 31, 2004.


RESULTS
The frequencies of AOM, OME and total otitis media episodes in vaccinated children were 2.3%, 22.8% and 25.2%, respectively, and these frequencies were 5.2%, 31.1% and 36.3% in the unvaccinated group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). This difference was especially prominent in the influenza season (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Influenza vaccine is effective in reducing AOM and OME episodes in 6- to 60-month-old day care children, especially during influenza season.
Ozgur
Senem Konuk
SK
Department of Pediatrics, Gazi University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
Beyazova
Ufuk
U
Kemaloglu
Yusuf Kemal
YK
Maral
Isil
I
Sahin
Figen
F
Camurdan
Aysu Duyan
AD
Kizil
Yusuf
Y
Dinc
Erdem
E
Tuzun
Hakan
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012621:Seasons; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated