[Epidemiologic characteristics of acute and recurrent middle ear inflammation in childhood]

The authors studied the incidence of acute and relapsing inflammations of the middle ear, together with factors relating to inflammation in 393 children aged up to 36 months. The results revealed that of 393 children followed up for 12 months, 175 (44.52%) had acute otitis media and 40 (22.85%) had relapses. No relationship was found between age and acute inflammation, but the rate of relapses was significantly higher during the first year of life. There was no significant influence of the sex of the child, socioeconomic status and place of living on the appearance of the inflammations. The attendance of infant nurseries and day-care centres had significant influence on higher rate of acute inflammations but not on relapses. There was no influence of acute otitis media of the members of the family on incidence of the same disease in their children, but there was evidence of influence on relapses. The highest incidence of inflammation occurred in autumn and winter months, November, December and January (61.67%) versus only 1.76% in summer months (July, August). Only 2 children had scars of the eardrums presenting as an early consequence of the disease, while none had any complications of the middle ear inflammation.