Prevalence of otitis media with effusion in multicultural schools in Hong Kong

Abstract

The prevalence of otitis media with effusion (OME) in Asia has only been studied in a limited fashion. This preliminary study forms part of a larger study aiming to establish the prevalence of OME in Hong Kong. One hundred and seventy-seven children (from multicultural schools) between the ages of five and 6.03 years were screened for OME using otoscopy and tympanometry. Nine positive screens (5.1 per cent) were obtained for OME. Within this mixed ethnic group, Chinese children had a significantly lower point prevalence (1.3 per cent) than Caucasian children (9.5 per cent) (p<0.05). Although the point prevalence from this mixed ethnic group of children was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of local Chinese school children (1.95 per cent) by the same group of investigators, the point prevalence in the ethnic Chinese children was comparable. The reason for the lower prevalence of OME in the Chinese population needs further research.

Otitis Media with Effusion in Relation to Socio Economic Status: A Community Based Study

“…In the study conducted by Rushton et al Chinese children in 175 children aged 5-6 years old have been reported to have a lower prevalence rate (1.3%) than Caucasian children (9.5%) [8]. While this study showed lower prevalence in lower socio economic status, in our study we found out that there was higher prevalence of Otitis media of effusion among students belonging to lower socio economic status.…”

Prevalence of Otitis Media with Effusion among Primary School Children in Eastern Black Sea, in Turkey and the Effect of Smoking in the Development of Otitis Media with Effusion

“…Frequent infections like common cold, mechanical obstruction or craniofacial malformations that interfere with the proper ET functioning increase susceptibility to accumulation of fluid within the middle ear cavity [4,11]. The prevalence of OME is rather variable, ranging from 1.3 to 31.3%, depending on the methods used, population characteristics like race, countries and environmental factors [12][13][14]. The prevalence was reported as 9.5% for Caucasians and 5.3% for Chinese primary school children [12,15].…”

“…The prevalence of OME is rather variable, ranging from 1.3 to 31.3%, depending on the methods used, population characteristics like race, countries and environmental factors [12][13][14]. The prevalence was reported as 9.5% for Caucasians and 5.3% for Chinese primary school children [12,15]. In a study from Greece including 5,121 children who varied in age from 6 to 12, the prevalence of OME was reported as 6.5% [16], while in a study from Kuwait including 893 children of similar age, it was reported as 31.3% [17].…”

Risk factors for otitis media with effusion in Chinese schoolchildren: A nested case–control study and review of the literature

“…An overview of the published articles reveals a considerable variation of prevalence rates among the worldwide OME reports. From two studies in Hong Kong, the point prevalence of OME was found to be 9.5 and 5.3%, respectively, among the Caucasian children [5] and Chinese children [6] in the first year of primary school. With regard to the natural history of OME, most effusions resolve spontaneously without any treatments.…”