[Otitis media in premature infants]. / Mittelohrentzündung bei frühgeborenen Säuglingen

From the 253 infants admitted to the praemature unit of the Department of Pediatrics, University of Pécs in 1971 87 showed signs of respiratory tract infection. 44 of these babies suffered from otitis media diagnosed by means of tympanal suction-drainage. This reliable diagnostic method is completely harmless and less traumatic than paracentesis. We have isolated Gram negative bacteria from the tympanal secretion in three quarters of the cases Bacterial culture proved to be negative in only two infants. We should like to stress that tympanal suction drainage--apart from its good therapeutic effect--is also beneficial to the anatomical development of the ear: the early embryonal tissues sucked out in this way could disturb the transformation of embryonal tissue to normal mucoperiosteum. The persistent embryonal tissue thickens the tympanal mucosa. This is a factor promoting inflammation.