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Acute otitis media and season of birth

Preben Homøe1, Rene B Christensen, Poul Bretlau

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen DK-2100 Ø, Denmark. phom@rh.dk

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|March 15, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Birth season does not predict acute otitis media (AOM) or its early onset. However, children born in summer/autumn with AOM face a higher risk of recurrent AOM (rAOM).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Investigating the potential link between season of birth and acute otitis media (AOM).
  • Examining associations with recurrent AOM (rAOM) and age of AOM onset.
  • Understanding epidemiological factors influencing childhood ear infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if season of birth influences the incidence of AOM and rAOM.
  • To assess if season of birth correlates with the age of initial AOM onset.
  • To identify potential seasonal risk factors for recurrent ear infections in children.

Main Methods:

  • Population-based survey of 591 Greenlandic children aged 3-8 years.
  • Data collection via parental reports and medical record cross-verification (95% coverage).
  • Analysis of AOM and rAOM occurrence based on birth season.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant association found between birth season and general AOM or early AOM onset.
  • Children born in summer and autumn with AOM showed a significantly higher relative risk (RR=1.44) of developing rAOM.
  • A trend suggested higher rAOM rates for those born in autumn and winter, though not statistically significant (p=0.09).

Conclusions:

  • Season of birth is not a significant predictor for AOM episodes or early onset.
  • Children born in summer/autumn with AOM have an elevated risk of developing recurrent AOM (rAOM).
  • Potential for increased reinfection risk in late autumn/winter may contribute to rAOM in summer/autumn births.
Abstract

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