title: Incidence and clinical presentation of acute otitis media in children aged <6 years in European medical practices.
abstract: We conducted an epidemiological, observational cohort study to determine the incidence and complications of acute otitis media (AOM) in children aged <6 years. Data on physician-diagnosed AOM were collected from retrospective review of medical charts for the year preceding enrolment and then prospectively in the year following enrolment. The study included 5776 children in Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. AOM incidence was 256/1000 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI) 243-270] in the prospective study period. Incidence was lowest in Italy (195, 95% CI 171-222) and highest in Spain (328, 95% CI 296-363). Complications were documented in <1% of episodes. Spontaneous tympanic membrane perforation was documented in 7% of episodes. Both retrospective and prospective study results were similar and show the high incidence during childhood in these five European countries. Differences by country may reflect true differences and differences in social structure and diagnostic procedures.
authors: Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology,University Children's Hospital,Würzburg,Germany.
authors: J G
authors: JG
authors: Liese
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics,Umeå University,Umeå,Sweden.
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Silfverdal
authors: Department of Paediatrics,University of Padova,Italy and PEDIANET Project.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Giaquinto
authors: Instituto Hispalense de Pediatría, Sevilla,Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Carmona
authors: Harbinson House Surgery, Sedgefield, County Durham, and Centre for Integrated Health Care Research,University of Durham,UK.
authors: J H
authors: JH
authors: Larcombe
authors: Hospital Materno-Infantil La Paz, Madrid,Spain.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Garcia-Sicilia
authors: Durham University,County Durham and Carmel Medical Practice, County Durham,UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Fuat
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Nazaret Health Center, Valencia,Spain.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Garces-Sanchez
authors: CS Pozuelo Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid,Spain.
authors: M L Arroba
authors: ML
authors: Basanta
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Health Centre Dr Castroviejo, Madrid,Spain.
authors: E Muñoz
authors: EM
authors: Hiraldo
authors: Family Paediatrician 'Pedianet Project', Padova,Italy.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Cantarutti
authors: GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, Munich,Germany.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Kroeniger
authors: GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, Munich,Germany.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Vollmar
authors: GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, Wavre,Belgium.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Holl
authors: GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, Wavre,Belgium.
authors: J Y
authors: JY
authors: Pirçon
authors: GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, Wavre,Belgium.
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Rosenlund
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000453:epidemiology