Rate of concurrent otitis media in upper respiratory tract infections with specific viruses.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the coincidence of new otitis media (OM) for first nasopharyngeal detections of the more common viruses by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). New OM episodes are usually coincident with a viral upper respiratory tract infection (vURTI), but there are conflicting data regarding the association between specific viruses and OM.


METHODS
Longitudinal (October-March), prospective follow-up of children for coldlike illness (CLI) by diary, middle ear status by pneumatic otoscopy, and vURTI by PCR.


METHODS
Academic medical centers.


METHODS
A total of 102 families with at least 2 children aged between 1 and 5 years (213 children; mean [SD] age, 3.7 [1.5] years; 110 male; and 176 white) were recruited from the local communities at 2 study sites by advertisement.


METHODS
New OM and CLI episodes and nasopharyngeal virus detections.


RESULTS
A total of 176 children (81%) had isolated PCR detection of at least 1 virus. The OM coincidence rates were 62 of 144 (44%) for rhinovirus, 15 of 27 (56%) for respiratory syncytial virus, 8 of 11 (73%) and 1 of 5 (20%) for influenza A and B, respectively, 6 of 12 (50%) for adenovirus, 7 of 18 (39%) for coronavirus, and 4 of 11 (36%) for parainfluenza virus detections (P = .37). For rhinovirus, new OM occurred in 50% of children with and 32% without a concurrent CLI (P = .15), and OM risk was predicted by OM and breastfeeding histories and by daily environment outside the home.


CONCLUSIONS
New OM was associated with nasopharyngeal detection of all assayed viruses irrespective of the presence or absence of a concurrent CLI. Differences among viruses were noted, but statistical significance was not achieved, possibly because of the low power associated with the small number of nonrhinovirus detections.
Alper
Cuneyt M
CM
Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Cuneyt.Alper@chp.edu
Winther
Birgit
B
Mandel
Ellen M
EM
Hendley
J Owen
JO
Doyle
William J
WJ
D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009302:Nasopharyngeal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology