[Perinatal factors in mucous otitis]. / Facteurs périnatals de l'otite muqueuse.

From the retrospective study of 141 children suffering from mucous otitis requiring drainage, the percentage of 40% perinatal factors (birth by cesareans, prematurity, neonatal intensive care) has been found much higher than in the general population. This suggests: 1. that there is, under these conditions, a deficiency of ventilation of the middle ear linked to a pathology of the "surfactant", and/or to a poor resorption of the intra-auricular fluid and mesenchyma of the drum of the ear; 2. that preventive measures should be taken in this high risk population, consisting of systematic ear examinations with pneumo-otoscopy during compulsory health examinations and tympanometry if an abnormality of the ear drum is found.