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Published on: February 23, 2014

Incidence and risk factors of acute otitis media in children

Román Baraibar1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain.

Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|June 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Acute otitis media (AOM), a common childhood illness, is influenced by various host and environmental factors. Understanding these elements is crucial for managing recurrent ear infections in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most frequent reason for antibiotic prescriptions in young children.
  • Accurate diagnosis can be complicated by examination circumstances, methods, and clinician skill.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the incidence of AOM in various populations and settings.
  • To identify host and environmental factors contributing to recurrent otitis in children.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of AOM incidence across different age groups and healthcare settings.
  • Analysis of host factors (sex, ethnicity, birth order, infection timing, family history) and environmental factors (season, socioeconomic status, smoke, air pollutants, breastfeeding, daycare).

Main Results:

  • Identified male predominance, higher risk in second-borns or those with siblings, and earlier/worse infections.
  • Highlighted significant environmental links to smoke, air pollutants, prolonged breastfeeding, and large daycare group attendance.

Conclusions:

  • Recurrent otitis is associated with specific host characteristics and environmental exposures.
  • Further research is needed to clarify inconclusive factors like season and socioeconomic status.

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