Prevalence and risk factors of otitis media with effusion in school children in Eastern Anatolia

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and demographic, environmental and child associated risk factors of OME in schoolchildren in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, and analyze the results with reference to the review of the literature.MethodsA total of 2355 children who were attending two different primary schools, one located in low, and the other located in a high socioeconomic district of city of Van were screened and 2320 children who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled to study. Standardized questionnaires that include nine questions for determination of risk factors were delivered to the parents to be filled before examination of each child. All of the children underwent both otoscopic examination and tympanometric evaluation to provide high accuracy on the diagnosis of OME. The association between children diagnosed as OME and the answers to the questionnaires were evaluated. Also, teachers of the children were asked to complete a questionnaire evaluating child's level of school success, and the success levels of children with or without OME were compared.ResultsThe prevalence of OME was found to be 10.43%. Second-hand smoking (p < 0.0001), low socioeconomic status (p < 0.001), living in a crowded house (p < 0.001), presence of atopy (p < 0.01), lack of breast-feeding (p < 0.05), presence of URTI (p < 0.0001), young age (p < 0.001) and snoring (p < 0.0001) were found to be associated with prevalence of OME. No significance was found for duration of breast-feeding, gender, birth history and previous otolaryngological operations. Also, children with OME were tended to be less successful in terms of school success.ConclusionsThe potential of OME to cause serious sequelae and complications that may affect children's life long-term, makes the disease an important health problem. Environmental, epidemiologic and familial factors play an important role in pathogenesis of OME. Caretakers must be informed about these highly modifiable risk factors, by this way the development or delayed diagnosis of the disease that may cause serious consequences can be prevented.