Risk factors for otitis media with effusion in children with adenoid hypertrophy

Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2020 Apr;40(2):133-137. doi: 10.14639/0392-100X-2456.

Abstract

Fattori di rischio per l’otite media effusiva nei bambini con ipertrofia adenoidea.

Riassunto: Lo scopo di questo studio è determinare i fattori di rischio più importanti per l’otite media effusiva (OME) nei bambini con ipertrofia adenoidea. 539 pazienti sono stati sottoposti a chirurgia per ipertrofia adenoidea o ipertrofia adenoidea + OME, fra febbraio 2012 e febbraio 2018. Sono stati valutati i dati circa la storia clinica neonatale e l’anamnesi remota, fattori ambientali, anamnesi familiare e lo status economico familiare. I gruppi sono risultati omogenei per età e genere. Dai nostri dati si evince che i fattori di rischio per l’OME sono la presenza di rinite allergica/atopica, tonsilliti ricorrenti, frequentazione dell’asilo nido, esposizione al fumo passivo, la presenza di 3 o più fratelli, la presenza di 4 o più persone conviventi. La correzione di tali fattori di rischio modificabili potrebbe contribuire a diminuire le complicanze dell’OME nei bambini.

Keywords: otitis media with effusion; predictors; risk factors.

Plain language summary

The aim of this study was to determine the most important risk factors in the development of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children with adenoid hypertrophy. A total of 539 patients undergoing surgery for adenoid hypertrophy (AH Group) (n = 429) or adenoid hypertrophy and otitis media with effusion (AH + OME Group) (n = 110) between February 2012 and February 2018 constituted the study group. Data were obtained on neonatal history (breastfeeding, bottle feeding), past health and medical history (presence of atopy or allergic rhinitis, snoring at night, cough, tonsillitis in the past 12 months), environmental factors (presence of pets, attending to daycare centers, district of school), family history (passive smoking at home, number of siblings, family size, parental education), and family income. The groups did not differ from each other for age (p = 0.684) and gender (p = 0.728). Our data support the presence of atopy or allergic rhinitis (p #x003C; 0.001), frequent (> 5) tonsillitis (p #x003C; 0.001), attending to daycare centers (p #x003C; 0.001), exposure to smoke (p #x003C; 0.001), having 3 or more siblings (p #x003C; 0.001), and 4 or more people in the household (p #x003C; 0.001) as the main risk factors for OME. Comprehensive knowledge of modifiable risk factors found in this study could help to minimise the complications of OME in children.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoids*
  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertrophy / complications*
  • Hypertrophy / surgery
  • Male
  • Otitis Media with Effusion / complications*
  • Otitis Media with Effusion / diagnosis
  • Predatory Behavior
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors