A high prevalence of new onset otitis media during parent diagnosed common colds.
BACKGROUND
Past studies suggest that the majority of new otitis media (OM) diagnoses is a complication of a colds/flu. A prospective format was used to determine the coincidence of otitis media and parent diagnosed cold/flu episodes in young children followed over a typical cold/flu season.


METHODS
Eighteen families with children aged 1-8 years were followed from October 1 to April 30 using parent-completed daily diaries focused on cold/flu signs and weekly examinations using pneumatic otoscopy for diagnosis of the presence/absence of otitis media.


RESULTS
Overall, 108 cold episodes were documented in 36 enrolled children with 20 colds (19%) occurring during a pre-existing OM episode and 40 colds (37%) complicated by a new OM episode. Conversely, there were 82 new OM episodes, 40 (49%) were associated with a cold in the individual child and 18 (22%) with a concurrent cold in a family member. The median duration of the OM episodes was approximately 2 weeks but this was longer for OM episodes where earache was reported.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirm past observation relating new OM episodes to a concurrent cold/flu but show these episodes to usually be of short duration. Two sources of potential bias were identified for point prevalence study formats: the presence of a pre-existing OM for a new onset cold/flu and the possibility of subclinical colds in patients with new OM episodes. These biases reinforce the need for longitudinal study formats to address this important relationship.
Winther
Birgit
B
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Virginia Health System, United States.
Doyle
William J
WJ
Alper
Cuneyt M
CM
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003139:Common Cold / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004433:Earache; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D038781:Otoscopy; D010290:Parents; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence