ABSTRACT
Serum, eye secretions, post-nasal swabs, external ear swabs and middle ear effusions (MEE) were collected from 131 Australian Aboriginal children with chronic otitis media with effusion (COME). The children were all resident in a trachoma endemic region. Chlamydia trachomatis was recovered from the MEE of 2 children. Probable bacterial pathogens were isolated from 34 (12.7%) ears. The remainder were sterile (52.4%) or contained normal skin flora (34.9%). Serum and secretions were examined by the microimmunofluorescent technique for the presence, titre and serotype of anti-chlamydial antibody. Antibody, predominantly of the C serotype, was found in a high percentage of sera (80%) and secretions (approximately 50%). This serotype is associated with ocular trachoma. It is concluded that C. trachomatis is associated with COME among some Aboriginal children in this trachoma endemic area.
Subject(s)
Chlamydia Infections/microbiology , Otitis Media with Effusion/microbiology , Otitis Media/microbiology , Adolescent , Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis , Australia , Child , Child, Preschool , Chlamydia Infections/etiology , Chlamydia Infections/immunology , Chlamydia trachomatis/immunology , Chlamydia trachomatis/isolation & purification , Female , Humans , Male , Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander , Otitis Media with Effusion/etiology , Otitis Media with Effusion/immunologyABSTRACT
Ear, nose and throat diseases in children living in the Kimberley region of Western Australia have been systematically studied over the last 15 years. A "diagnostic triad" is described; this offers a comprehensive approach to the assessment of middle-ear disease. The aetiology of chronic ear disease in Aboriginal children has been investigated. Management problems of deafness are discussed.
