title: [Risk factors for otitis media with effusion in children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the risk factors for otitis media with effusion (OME) in some kindergarten children in Wuhan City of China and analyze the results with reference to the review of the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects were 3 to 6 years old children drawn from a school screening program for OME in Wuhan. All subjects were assessed with routine otorhinolaryngologic examination, otoscopic examination and tympanometry. During the test, parents were interviewed to provide information with regard to the children's birth history, neonatal history, feeding history, family smoke history, otological history, rhinorrhea, sneeze, nasal obstruction, snoring, tonsillitis episodes history, et al. These data formed the basis in the estimation of potential risk factors for OME.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the univariate analysis of 144 cases and 288 controls, significantly elevated odds ratios (OR) for OME were detected on the symptoms of nasal obstruction (OR = 2.60, P = 0.002), rhinorrhoea (OR = 1.442, P = 0.003), high hard palate (OR = 4.411, P < 0.0001), and previous history of acute otitis media (OR = 1.77, P = 0.025). However, four factors were found to be significant in the multivariate logistic regression model, including feeding history (OR = 0.746, P = 0.047), nasal obstruction (OR = 2.56, P = 0.003) and previous acute otitis media episodes (OR = 1.735, P = 0.032).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Previous acute otitis media episodes and nasal obstruction were risk factors, which was accordant with literature. In addition, breastfeeding was a protective factor for OME, but acute tonsillitis was not a factor for OME. A child who had previous acute otitis media episode and often had nasal obstruction is suggested to have otorhinolaryngologic regulatory examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Wuhan Medical and Health Center for Women and Children, Wuhan 430016, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-nan
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhong-qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: You-hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Shun-fang
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: An-na
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires