Acute otitis media in children

ABSTRACT

This is an observational hospital based prospective study of 6 months [Feb-Julyl 998] duration done to find out the frequency of acute otitis media [AOM] in children less than 2 years of age, to observe age specific symptomatology and to assess risk factors in children <15 years of age. Out of 7125 children coming to the OPD, 113 had evidence of AOM giving a frequency of 1.6 percent. These cases mainly concentrated in the less than 2 year old group [frequency 4.4 percent]. General symptoms were more frequent in the younger age group [<2 years] in contrast to the older age group [2-15 years] where more local symptoms were obvious. Out of the 113 cases many had multiple risk factors namely, bottle feeding, use of pacifiers, passive smoking, allergy, cleft palate, etc