A Prevalence Study of Otitis Media with Effusion in Kindergarten Children in Puchun / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

The prevalence and related diseases of otitis media with effusion(OME) which is a very common disease in infants and young children were investigated in a group of 3 to 6 year old children. The study population includes 374 children with 185 boys and 189 girls enrolled in 7 kindergartens in Puchun city. The middle ear status was assessed by combination of findings of otomicroscope, pneumatic otoscope, impedence audiometry. The related diseases were evaluated by radiologic findings and questionnare with statistic analysis. Fifty-nine children were considered to have OME(prevalence 15.8%) with peak at 3 years of age(30.6%). Of the 59 children with OME, fifty-four percent had bilateral involvement and all the remainder had unilateral involvement. The risk for otitis media with effusion increased in children with adenoid enlargement, tonsillar enlargement, and paranasal sinusitis, and this was confirmed to be statistically significant(p<0.01).