[Diagnosis of pneumococcal otitis in children]

The pneumococcal origin of purulent otitis was diagnosed in 74 (35 percent) of 211 children, in whom acute respiratory viral diseases or purulent otitis were previously diagnosed, by a combination of indirect immunofluorescence, cytobacterioscopic and culture methods. Use of indirect immunofluorescence and of special medium for isolation of atypical forms of the agent (L-forms and unbalanced growth forms) helped diagnose pneumococcal otitis in 47 (22.3 percent) more patients.