Risk factors for otitis media among preschool, rural Indian children

Otitis media (OM) represents a public health matter, being the main cause of preventable hearing loss in pediatric patients. Besides well-established risk factors for developing OM, such as craniofacial abnormalities, prematurity, low birth weight, or tobacco exposure, there is evidence that obesity could be associated with a high incidence of OM. Our aim is to perform a literature review on the state of current published research on the relationship between OM and obesity and to discuss the interconnectivity between these two entities. We conducted an electronic search in PubMed and EMBASE databases. Out of 176 references, 15 articles were included in our study. Our findings suggest that obesity and overweight might be risk factors for developing OM, and vice versa. The main mechanisms for developing OM in obese patients include alteration in cytokine profile, increased gastroesophageal reflux, and/or fat accumulation. Conversely, ear infections exposure might increase the risk of obesity, mostly by taste changes through middle ear cavity inflammation.

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Risk factors for chronicity in childhood otitis media with effusion

Clinical Otolaryngology ◽

10.1046/j.1365-2273.1999.00270.x ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 343-345 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R. Mills

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Otitis Media ◽

Otitis Media With Effusion

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Pacific Islands Families Study: Risk factors associated with otitis media with effusion among Pacific 2-year-old children

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology ◽

10.1016/j.ijporl.2007.03.013 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 71 (7) ◽

pp. 1047-1054 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

J.E. Paterson ◽

S. Carter ◽

J. Wallace ◽

Z. Ahmad ◽

N. Garrett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Otitis Media ◽

Pacific Islands ◽

Otitis Media With Effusion ◽

Factors Associated

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Clinical Manifestations and Risk Factors of Children Receiving Triple Ventilating Tube Insertions for Treatment of Recurrent Otitis Media With Effusion

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.2005-2520 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 117 (6) ◽

pp. e1119-e1123 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

J. H. Ahn

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Otitis Media ◽

Otitis Media With Effusion ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Recurrent Otitis Media

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Otitis media in Indigenous Australian children: review of epidemiology and risk factors

The Journal of Laryngology & Otology ◽

10.1017/s0022215113003083 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 128 (S1) ◽

pp. S16-S27 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Jake Jervis-Bardy ◽

L Sanchez ◽

A S Carney

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Otitis Media ◽

Bacterial Load ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Acute Otitis Media ◽

Chronic Otitis Media ◽

Health Concern ◽

Indigenous Australian ◽

Indigenous Children

AbstractBackground:Otitis media represents a major health concern in Australian Indigenous children (‘Indigenous children’), which has persisted, despite public health measures, for over 30 years.Methods:Global searches were performed to retrieve peer-reviewed and ‘grey’ literature investigating the epidemiology of and risk factors for otitis media in Indigenous children, published between 1985 and 2012.Results:In Indigenous children, the prevalence of otitis media subtypes is 7.1–12.8 per cent for acute otitis media, 10.5–30.3 per cent for active chronic otitis media and 31–50 per cent for tympanic membrane perforation. The initial onset of otitis media in Indigenous children occurs earlier and persists for longer after the first year of life, compared with non-Indigenous children. Indigenous children are colonised by otopathogens more frequently, at younger ages and with a higher bacterial load. Poor community and domestic infrastructure, overcrowding and exposure to tobacco smoke increase the risk of otitis media in Indigenous children; however, the availability of swimming pools plays no role in the prevention or management of otitis media.Conclusion:Despite awareness of the epidemiological burden of otitis media and its risk factors in Indigenous children, studies undertaken since 1985 demonstrate that otitis media remains a significant public health concern in this population.

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