[Acute otitis media: could it be a sentinel indicator of health care?].
BACKGROUND
Acute otitis media is the most common bacterial disease in children under five years; therefore, is one of the most common causes of pediatric consultation. Our objective was to determine the feasibility to consider this disease as a sentinel factor of medical attention.


METHODS
All the new cases of acute otitis media registered between 2008 and 2011 were collected and analyzed. Proportions, ratios, and incidence rates were determined. Also, the limits for proportions were calculated using mid P exact test.


RESULTS
In children under five years, we observed 20 % of the cases of non-suppurative otitis media, and suppurative otitis media in 17 %. The reason for acute respiratory infection in relation to cases of otitis media in children of this age increased from 87:1 in 2008 to 53:1 in 2011.


CONCLUSIONS
The reason of suppurative otitis media decreased in children under five years, even in 2009, when it was registered the highest number of new cases of acute respiratory infection. It was not feasible to determine if acute otitis media is a sentinel indicator; however, we could monitor medical attention indirectly.
División de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de Enfermedades Transmisibles, Coordinación de Vigilancia Epidemiológica, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Distrito Federal, México. david.cabrerag@imss.gob.mx.
David Alejandro
DA
Cabrera-Gaytán
Gabriel
G
Valle-Alvarado
Ernesto
E
Krug-Llamas
Concepción
C
Grajales-Muñiz
D000208:Acute Disease; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care
Ear diseases; Health status indicators; Otitis media