Otitis media in the Republic of Palau. A case-series study

Race is a known epidemiologic determinant for the development of otitis media. This study assessed the severity of otitis media in a subpopulation (N = 73; mean age, 13.2 years) receiving care from the ear clinic in the Republic of Palau, a US Trust Territory, through a questionnaire and an otologic examination. The mean age of patients with otorrhea (2.5 years) was found to be significantly different from the mean age at which they began to swim (4 years). Otitis media-related sequelae were found to involve more than half of ears or subjects examined. No statistical difference was noted when various patient characteristics were compared with the severity of disease. Our clinical impression is that this subpopulation is severely affected by otitis media and its sequelae. Prospective studies are required to identify risk factors present in the population at large.