Risk factors of acute otitis media among infants in a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Acute otitis media (AOM) is the second most common disease of childhood. Many factors play role in the causation of AOM. However, the research-based data on risk factors for AOM in infants is still inadequate. Objective were this study<strong> </strong>aimed to determine the risk factors for AOM in infants with AOM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 189 infant patients with AOM in the otorhinolaryngology outpatient department of allied hospital of Rawalpindi medical university, Rawalpindi. Established inclusion and exclusion criteria and non-probability convenience sampling technique were utilized for the selection of patients. After taking informed consent, data were collected through a self-adapted questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was accomplished through SPSS version 25.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>AOM was more common among patients who had, an age group with a range of 9-12 months (41.28%), male gender (55.02%), lower birth order (49.73%), mothers with illiterate educational status (53.96%), mothers with the job (57.14%), lower socioeconomic status (59.25%), used bottle-feeding (46.56%), supine position during feeding (61.37%), used a pacifier (67.73%), poor feeding hygiene (58.21%), unvaccinated pneumococcal status (57.15%), and large family (63.50%). In the case of family ear infection and passive smoking, AOM incidence was more frequent among infants whose family had no history of ear infection (69.85%) and no smoking exposure (53.44%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In short, the age group with a range of 9-12 months, male gender, low birth order, illiterate mothers, mothers with the job, lower socioeconomic status, bottle-feeding, supine feeding position, pacifier use, poor feeding hygiene, unvaccinated pneumococcal status, and large family size, all raise the risk of AOM incidence in infants.</p>

Prevalence of acute otitis media in a tertiary care center of Assam

“…In their study, Khan et al, observed that infants between the ages of 9 and 12 months had the highest prevalence (41.28%) of AOM, probably due to different climates and geographic locations and high populations. 5 There was a bimodal peak distribution of age in the study, where 25.8% of cases were under the age of 10 years and 25.2% between 31 and 40 years. The age group of 71-80 years (0.3%) had the lowest patient population.…”

“…This finding contrasts with one made by Khan et al, who observed that there were more men (55.02%) than women (44.98%) with AOM. 5 The majority (53.1%) of patients who visited the ENT OPD at AMCH were from Dibrugarh. Age, gender, the number of family members, economic status, play school, overcrowded housing, genetic factors, season, immunization status, immunological status, infective rhinitis, adenoids, and allergic rhinitis can all be risk factors for AOM.…”