Does otitis media in early childhood affect later behavioural development? Results from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. (2nd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Da Costa, C.; Eikelboom, R.H.; Jacques, A.; Swanepoel, D.W.; Whitehouse, A.J.O.; Jamieson, S.E.; Brennan‐Jones, C.G.
• Is Part Of: Clinical otolaryngology. Volume 43:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 1036
• Page End: 1042
• Publication Date: 2018-04-02
• Subjects: behaviour -- child development -- otitis media -- raine study; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51005
• DOI: 10.1111/coa.13094
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1749-4478

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To examine the relationship between early life episodes of otitis media and later behavioural development with adjustment for confounders. Design: Longitudinal cohort study. Setting: The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study recruited 2900 pregnant women from King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) in Perth, Western Australia, between 1989 and 1991. Participants: Data from the children born were collected at both the Year 3 and Year 5 follow‐up. At Year 3, n = 611 were diagnosed with recurrent otitis media through parent‐report and clinical examination. At Year 5, n = 299 were considered exposed to otitis media based upon tympanometry results. Main outcome measures: Performance in the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), a questionnaire completed by the primary caregiver at Year 10. Results: Significant associations were found between recurrent otitis media at Year 3 and internalising behaviours ( P = .011), and the somatic ( P = .011), withdrawn ( P = .014), attention ( P = .003) and thought problems domains ( P = .021), and the total CBCL score ( P = .010). A significant association was also found between exposure to otitis media at Year 5 and externalising behaviours ( P = .026). Conclusions: A modest association was seen between recurrent otitis media at Year 3 and exposure to otitis media at Year 5 and a number of behaviour domains at Year 10.