Acute Purulent Otitis Media in Children Older Than 5 Years

Abstract

It is generally believed thatHaemophilus influenzaeis not commonly a causative agent of otitis media in children older than 5 years of age. We recently studied cases of 58 children, aged from 5 to 9 years, who had acute otitis media.Haemophilus specieswere the causative agents in 36% of cases. This high incidence ofHaemophilus isolationfrom the middle ear exudate of these children has important therapeutic implications; antibiotics effective againstH influenzaeshould be employed when dealing with otitis media in this older age group. (JAMA238:1032-1033, 1977)