A case–control study of nutritional factors associated with chronic suppurative otitis media in yemeni children. (4th April 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elemraid, M A; Mackenzie, I J; Fraser, W D; Harper, G; Faragher, B; Atef, Z; Al-Aghbari, N; Brabin, B J
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 96(2011)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A19
• Page End: A19
• Publication Date: 2011-04-04
• Subjects: Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2011.212563.36
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Undernutrition and chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) in children are common in low resource settings but there are few studies of their interactions. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine nutritional factors associated with CSOM in Yemeni children. Methods: A case–control study of 75 children with CSOM and 74 healthy controls. Assessment included dietary history, anthropometry, haemoglobin, and serum analytes zinc, copper, selenium, iron, calcium, phosphate and total 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D). Results: Cases had lower mean z scores for weight-for-age, weight-for-height, body mass index and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) (all p<0.05), and lower mean haemoglobin (p=0.003), serum zinc (p=0.002), and selenium (p<0.001) concentrations. There was high prevalence of low serum zinc concentration (≥90%), and vitamin D deficiency in both cases (80%) and controls (96%). Duration of ear discharge was negatively correlated with total 25(OH)D (p=0.028), adjusted calcium for albumin (p<0.001), phosphate (p=0.002), transferrin receptor/ferritin ratio (p=0.004) and copper (p<0.001), and positively correlated with child age and MUAC (p<0.001). Conclusions: Children with CSOM were more undernourished than controls with lower mean serum zinc and selenium concentrations. Vitamin D deficient and iron replete children had longer duration of infection and severe disease. Trials evaluating specific micronutrients are required to assess specific nutrient-infection interactions in CSOM.