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Otitis media in neonatal intensive care unit graduates: a 1-year prospective study
J S Gravel1, C M McCarton, R J Ruben
1Department of Otolaryngology, Rose F. Kennedy Center, Research in Mental Retardation and Human Development, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York 10461.
Insights
High incidence of otitis media with effusion (OME) was observed in both high-risk and full-term infants. The study found similar middle ear status and OME onset between these infant groups during their first year.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Otolaryngology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Infants graduating from neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are considered high-risk.
- Low socioeconomic status and urban environments are associated with increased health risks.
- Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common childhood condition with potential long-term effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate middle ear status in high-risk and full-term infants.
- To compare the incidence and onset of otitis media with effusion (OME) between these two groups.
- To identify potential demographic factors influencing OME in infants.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study involving 46 high-risk infants and 19 full-term infants.
- Pneumootoscopy used to assess middle ear status at 40 weeks' postconceptional age and throughout a 1-year follow-up.
- Data collected during periodic medical and nonmedical visits.
Main Results:
- 91% of all infants experienced at least one episode of otitis media with effusion (OME).
- No significant differences in OME incidence or onset were found between high-risk and full-term infants.
- Hispanic infants had an earlier OME onset compared to black infants, but similar OME prevalence.
Conclusions:
- Infants graduating from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and full-term infants exhibit similar otologic outcomes in the first year of life.
- Otitis media with effusion (OME) is highly prevalent in this urban, low-socioeconomic infant population.
- Further research into ethnic variations in OME onset is warranted.
Abstract:
A group of 46 high-risk infants (graduates of a neonatal intensive care unit) and 19 full-term infants were observed prospectively for middle ear status beginning at 40 weeks' postconceptional age. All infants were born to families living in low socioeconomic urban neighborhoods. Pneumootoscopy was used to determine the presence or absence of middle ear effusion during periodic medical and nonmedical visits throughout a 1-year period. Of all infants studied, 91% had at least one episode of otitis media with effusion during the observation interval. There were no differences in the percentages of visits during which high-risk and full-term infants experienced either normal middle ears bilaterally or otitis media with effusion in one or both ears. Furthermore, the age of onset of otitis media with effusion was similar for the two groups of babies. No differences were found between boys and girls in the age of onset for otitis media or in the percentage of visits at which otitis media with effusion was detected. Hispanic infants experienced their initial episode at significantly younger ages than did black infants in the sample. Both groups had similar percentages of visits attributable to otitis media with effusion during the observation period. The results indicate a high incidence among the infants studied and similar otologic courses for neonatal intensive care unit graduates and full-term infants during the first year of life.