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Observational Study
. 2014 Aug;142(8):1778-88.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268813002744. Epub 2013 Dec 13.

Incidence and clinical presentation of acute otitis media in children aged <6 years in European medical practices

J G Liese  1 , S A Silfverdal  2 , C Giaquinto  3 , A Carmona  4 , J H Larcombe  5 , J Garcia-Sicilia  6 , A Fuat  7 , M Garces-Sanchez  8 , M L Arroba Basanta  9 , E Muñoz Hiraldo  10 , L Cantarutti  11 , W Kroeniger  12 , J Vollmar  12 , K Holl  13 , J Y Pirçon  13 , M R Rosenlund  13
Affiliations
Observational Study

Incidence and clinical presentation of acute otitis media in children aged <6 years in European medical practices

J G Liese et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2014 Aug.

Erratum in

Abstract

We conducted an epidemiological, observational cohort study to determine the incidence and complications of acute otitis media (AOM) in children aged <6 years. Data on physician-diagnosed AOM were collected from retrospective review of medical charts for the year preceding enrolment and then prospectively in the year following enrolment. The study included 5776 children in Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. AOM incidence was 256/1000 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI) 243-270] in the prospective study period. Incidence was lowest in Italy (195, 95% CI 171-222) and highest in Spain (328, 95% CI 296-363). Complications were documented in <1% of episodes. Spontaneous tympanic membrane perforation was documented in 7% of episodes. Both retrospective and prospective study results were similar and show the high incidence during childhood in these five European countries. Differences by country may reflect true differences and differences in social structure and diagnostic procedures.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Percentage of children aged 0–5 years in five European countries with 1, 2, 3, or ⩾4 acute otitis media (AOM) episodes as diagnosed by a physician during (a) the 12-month (2007–2008) retrospective study period, and (b) the 12-month (2008–2010) prospective study period in children aged 0–5 years in five European countries.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Incidence of acute otitis media episodes in children aged 0–5 years in five European countries as diagnosed by a physician and documented in the medical chart during the 12-month (2007–2008) retrospective study period and 12-month prospective study period (2008–2010) in children aged 0–5 years in five European countries. Bars represent 95% confidence intervals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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