The occurrence of otitis media with effusion in Dutch pre-school children

Abstract

Published data on the frequency of otitis media with effusion in pre-school children do not give a uniform view about the age-specific rates. A cohort of 1439 2-year-old children in the Netherlands was followed using serial tympanometry on 9 consecutive occasions up to 4 years of age. The screening rate decreased from 87% on the first occasion to 73% on the last round. The prevalence rates in this study are high compared to results quoted in the literature. At least 80% of the children had otitis media with effusion on at least one occasion before the age of four. Distinct seasonal variation was found in the rates. It is postulated that middle ear effusion is a 'physiological' phenomenon at pre-school age with some pathological exceptions.

Otitis media with effusion in children

“…However, the review suggested that the evidence could be generalised to a child of any age. The second review also found no significant difference in effusion clearance rate between antihistamine plus oral decongestant and placebo at 4 and 12 weeks (effusion persistence at 4 weeks: 4 Otitis media with effusion in children Child health…”

“…[3] [4] One study in the USA estimated that, between the ages of 2 months and 2 years, 91.1% of young children will have one episode of middle ear effusion, and 52.2% will have bilateral involvement. [5] OME is the most common reason for referral for surgery in children in the UK.…”

Using an epidemiological model to investigate unwarranted variation: the case of ventilation tubes for otitis media with effusion in England

“…13 By the age of four years, about 80% of children have had episodes of OME. 14 As OME is transitory for most children, the NICE clinical pathway ( Figure 1) recommends an initial period of active observation over three months and repeat audiological testing at the end of this period. At that stage, it is recommended that VTs are offered for children younger than 12 years who meet three 'core' criteria: (1) bilateral OME with (2) a hearing level in the better hearing ear of 25 to 30 dBHL or higher that (3) is documented over a period of three months.…”

Persistence of upper respiratory tract infections in a cohort followed from childhood to adulthood

“…At each visit upper respiratory tract infections during the previous 3 months were documented and tympanometry was performed. 8 At the age of 8 years children were reevaluated and a history of upper respiratory disease experienced between 4 and 8 years was taken. 9 At 21 years of age, the home addresses of the cohort members were traced via the City Council of Nijmegen and a standardized respiratory disease questionnaire (covering the period between 8 and 21 years of age) was sent.…”

“…Recurrent infections of the upper respiratory tract (rURTI [2][3][4] were defined as at least four 3-monthly episodes with an ear infection and/ or throat infections and/or at least six episodes with a severe common cold. Recurrent infections of the upper respiratory tract between ages 4 and 8 years (rURTI [4][5][6][7][8] were defined as the occurrence of four or more ear infections and/or four or more throat infections and/ or six or more severe common colds.…”