Otitis Media and Its Sequelae in Kenyan Schoolchildren. (9th July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Simões, Eric A. F.; Kiio, Francis; Carosone-Link, Phyllis J.; Ndegwa, Serah N.; Ayugi, John; Macharia, Isaac M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. Volume 5:Number 4(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 375
• Page End: 384
• Publication Date: 2015-07-09
• Subjects: acute otitis media -- chronic suppurative otitis media -- otitis media with effusion -- otoscopy -- perforation -- tympanic membrane; Communicable diseases in children -- Periodicals; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.929
• DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piv038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2048-7193

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The goal of this study was to obtain representative Kenyan data on the point prevalence of acute otitis media (AOM) and its sequelae (otitis media with effusion [OME] and chronic suppurative otitis media [CSOM]), a major cause of preventable hearing loss in children in developing countries. In Africa, there are limited studies on the prevalence of AOM and its sequelae in children. Methods: Study subjects were children aged 2 to 15 years and were enrolled from randomly selected preprimary and primary schools. After parental or guardian consent, subjects had a questionnaire administered, otoscopy and tympanometry were done, and audiometry was performed on those with ear problems detected on these examinations. Results: A total of 9825 (75%) children was from rural schools. The prevalence of CSOM was 15 of 1000, OME was 15 of 1000, and AOM was 7 of 1000 children. Rural Rift Valley schoolchildren had the highest prevalence of CSOM (24 of 1000) compared with other regions (12 of 1000; P < .0001). Ear discharge occurred before 3.5 years in 50% of 901 children with ear discharge. A history of ear discharge was associated with abnormal tympanograms (odds ratio [OR], 11.9–19.2) and mild-to-severe hearing loss (OR, 21.6–38.6), even in children without ear disease (OR, 10.7–24.4). Conclusions: The burden of AOM sequelae in Kenyan preschool and schoolchildren is significant, and it occurs mostly in the first 4 years of life. By preventing early recurrent AOM, pneumococcal vaccination might partly avert nonreversible sequelae.