A Prospective Study of Acute Otitis Media in Children: 2. Incidence in An Urban Population

Abstract

Since 1977 a cohort study on the incidence of acute otitis media (AOM) is going on in Malmö, Sweden. The study includes 8 900 children born in 1977–1980. The maximum time of observation was 48 months. Children, aged 6–11 months, run the greatest risk of getting AOM. 54% of the children born in 1977 had at least one episode before the age of 48 months and 48% of these children had more than one episode. There was no difference with sex, but the boys had significantly higher cumulative incidence rate (CIR) than the girls. Recurrent episodes were significantly higher in children having their first episode before the age of 18 months. The CIR of AOM was higher among children in a modern villa suburb compared to those in a modern apartment-house district or in the centre of the city. Children at day-care centers run a greater risk of getting recurrent AOM than those at home or in family day-care homes.