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Published on: January 23, 2017

Prevalence of recurrent otitis media in habitually snoring school-aged children

David Gozal1, Leila Kheirandish-Gozal, Oscar Sans Capdevila

  • 1Division of Pediatric Sleep Medicine and Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, 570 South Preston Street, Suite 204, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. david.gozal@louisville.edu

Sleep Medicine
|October 9, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Habitual snoring in children significantly increases the risk of recurrent otitis media (ROM) and the need for tympanostomy tube placement. This study highlights a strong association between snoring and ear infections in pediatric populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Otolaryngology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and recurrent otitis media (ROM) in children.
  • The relationship between habitual snoring (HS) and ROM prevalence, as well as tympanostomy tube needs, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if habitually snoring children exhibit a higher prevalence of recurrent otitis media.
  • To assess if habitually snoring children require tympanostomy tube placement more frequently than non-snoring children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of parental surveys from 16,321 children aged 5-7 years.
  • Data collected on habitual snoring (HS), recurrent otitis media (ROM), and tympanostomy tube insertion.
  • Comparison of ROM prevalence and tympanostomy tube rates between HS and non-snoring (NS) children.

Main Results:

  • Children with HS (11.3%) had a significantly higher prevalence of ROM (44.8%) compared to non-snoring children (29.3%; p<0.000001).
  • Habitually snoring children were more likely to undergo tympanostomy tube placement (34.4% of HS vs. 13.6% of NS children; p<0.00001).
  • The odds ratio for tympanostomy tube placement was significantly higher for HS children (OR: 2.19; CI: 1.98-2.43).

Conclusions:

  • Habitual snoring is strongly associated with an increased prevalence of recurrent otitis media in children.
  • Children who habitually snore have a significantly greater need for tympanostomy tube placement.
  • Further research is recommended to explore the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in children diagnosed with recurrent otitis media.
Abstract

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