Suppurative complications of acute otitis media: changes in frequency over time.
OBJECTIVE
To review the experience at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in the management of suppurative complications of acute otitis media from 2000 to 2007, with an emphasis on changes in frequency over time.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Academic, tertiary care children's hospital.


METHODS
The study population comprised 87 children (age <18 years) with acute mastoiditis treated at our institution over the period of January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2007. Acute mastoiditis was defined by evidence of inflammation in the middle ear space and signs of mastoid inflammation (postauricular swelling, redness, or tenderness) or radiographic evidence of destruction of mastoid air cells, sigmoid sinus thrombosis, or abscess formation. Patients with underlying cholesteatoma were excluded.


METHODS
Frequency of cases of acute mastoiditis per year.


RESULTS
The frequency of cases of acute mastoiditis at our institution was positively correlated with calendar time, both for all cases of acute mastoiditis (Spearman rank correlation, r = 0.73; P = .04) and for cases of mastoid subperiosteal abscess (r = 0.96; P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
We observed an increase in the frequency of cases of acute mastoiditis with subperiosteal abscess seen at our institution over the study period, controlling for case volume. These findings suggest an increase in incidence, although further population-based studies are required to definitively evaluate this possibility.
Thorne
Marc C
MC
Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Chewaproug
Linda
L
Elden
Lisa M
LM
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000209:etiology*; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies