Prevalence and associated risk factors of otitis media and its subtypes in South Indian population

Background: Otitis media is a common inflammatory disorder caused by the effusion of fluids or pathological changes in the tympanic membrane of middle ear that leads to hearing loss in all age groups which may be either temporary or permanent. Objective: The present study aimed to identify the risk factors responsible for the onset and progression of otitis media and its subtypes as well as its associated co-morbidities in the South Indian population. Subjects and methods: The study constituted 2602 subjects including children and adults affected with OM and the diagnosis was confirmed by ENT specialists using all the required otorhinolaryngological tests. The study was carried out by the institutional ethical clearance. The data were coded and evaluations were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, PASW STATISTICS 18.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: squamous-chronic suppurative otitis media was highly prevalent (47.3%) followed by mucosal-chronic suppurative otitis media (18.5%), acute suppurative otitis media (17.6%), and otitis media with effusion (16.6%). The multinomial logistic regression analysis showed significant association of tinnitus with squamous-chronic suppurative otitis media; bilaterality, tinnitus and vertigo with mucosal-chronic suppurative otitis media while bilaterality, adenoids, tinnitus and snoring with otitis media with effusion. Significant differences were observed in different forms of hearing loss at higher frequency within the subtypes of otitis media. Conclusions: The study has revealed that otitis media predominantly affects all age groups and has a serious health concern in cases affected with hearing loss and its associated co-morbidities.