Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
Clinical features and outcome of acute otitis media in early infancy
Stavroula Ilia1, Emmanouil Galanakis
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Crete, POB 2208, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
Insights
Acute otitis media (AOM) in infants under 60 days old presents differently but has similar long-term outcomes compared to older infants. This study highlights early AOM risk factors and clinical signs in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Acute otitis media (AOM) is a frequent childhood illness.
- Limited data exists on AOM's early course in infancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate predisposing factors for AOM in very young infants.
- Characterize clinical presentations of early-onset AOM.
- Determine long-term outcomes of AOM in infants under 12 months.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 160 infants (<12 months) hospitalized for AOM.
- Follow-up for 3 years.
- Comparison of infants aged <60 days (very young) vs. 61-365 days (older).
Main Results:
- Very young infants had more siblings and less pacifier use.
- Purulent otorrhea and irritability were more frequent in the <60-day group.
- Two cases of meningitis occurred in the very young group; mastoiditis occurred in two infants (one in each group).
- No significant differences in recurrence, ventilation tube use, or hearing impairment were found.
Conclusions:
- AOM in the first two months of life exhibits distinct predisposing factors and clinical features.
- Long-term outcomes, including recurrence rates, are comparable between very young and older infants.
Objectives:
Acute otitis media (AOM) is common in childhood, but little is known on its course very early in infancy. In this study we investigated predisposing factors, clinical characteristics, and long-term outcomes of AOM in very young infants.
Methods:
One hundred sixty infants aged less than 12 months with AOM hospitalized in two general hospitals during 2005-2006 were included in the study and followed-up for 3 years. Demographics, history, clinical manifestations, and further AOM episodes were studied in two infant groups defined by age at the first AOM episode: the very young infants, aged less than 60 days, and the older infants aged 61-365 days.
Results:
Of the 147/160 infants successfully followed-up, 48 (32.7%) were aged less than 60 days and 99 (67.3%) were aged 61-365 days. The very young infants with AOM had more siblings (1.25 vs. 0.87; p=0.047) and used pacifiers less often (45.8% vs. 75.8%; RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.44-0.84; p=0.0007). Purulent otorrhea and irritability were more common in the early AOM onset group (52.1% vs. 32.3%; risk ratio (RR) 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-2.39; p=0.03, and 60.4% vs. 38.4%; RR 1.57, 95% CI 1.12-2.21; p=0.01, respectively). AOM was complicated with meningitis in two infants, both in the very young group, and with mastoiditis in a further two infants, one in each group. No difference in further AOM episodes, use of ventilation tubes, or hearing impairment was observed between the two infant groups.
Conclusions:
AOM in the first 2 months of life may have different predisposing factors and clinical presentations, but not different recurrence rates or long-term outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction
01:26Tonsillitis II: Management
01:14Atypical Pneumonia
01:28Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
01:30Tonsillitis I: Introduction
Etiology
Three primary contributing factors have been identified.