Multi-institutional Assessment of Otitis Media Epidemiology Using Real-world Data.

OBJECTIVES: To determine rates and risk factors of pediatric otitis media (OM) using real-world electronic health record (PEDSnet) data from January 2009 through May 2021. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Seven pediatric academic health systems that participate in PEDSnet. METHODS: Children <6 months-old at time of first outpatient, Emergency Department, or inpatient visit were included and followed longitudinally. A time-to-event analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazards model to estimate hazard ratios for OM incidence based on sociodemographic factors and specific health conditions. RESULTS: The PEDSnet cohort included 910,265 children, 54.3% male, mean age (months) 1.3 [standard deviation (SD) 1.6] and mean follow up (years) 4.3 (SD 3.2). By age 3 years, 39.6% of children had evidence of one OM episode. OM rates decreased following pneumococcal-13 vaccination (PCV-13) and the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with young age, non-Hispanic Black/African American or Hispanic race/ethnicity, public insurance, higher family income, and male sex had higher incidence rates. Health conditions that increased OM risk included cleft palate [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 4.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.9-4.2], primary ciliary dyskinesia [aHR 2.5 (95% CI 1.8-3.5)], trisomy 21 [aHR 2.0 (95% CI 1.9-2.1)], atopic dermatitis [aHR 1.4 (95% CI 1.4-1.4)], and gastroesophageal reflux [aHR1.5 (95% CI 1.5-1.5)]. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 20% of children by age 1 and 40% of children by age 3 years will have experienced an OM episode. OM rates decreased after PCV-13 and COVID-19. Children with abnormal ciliary function or craniofacial conditions, specifically cleft palate, carry the highest risk of OM.

Environmental risk factors for respiratory infection and wheeze in young children: A multicentre birth cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory infections and wheeze have a considerable impact on the health of young children and consume significant healthcare resources. We aimed to evaluate the effect of environmental factors on respiratory infections and symptoms in early childhood. METHODS: Environmental risk factors including: daycare attendance; breastfeeding; siblings; damp within the home; environmental tobacco smoke (ETS); child's bedroom flooring; animal exposure; road traffic density around child's home; and solid fuel pollution within home were assessed in children recruited to the GO-CHILD multicentre prospective birth cohort study. Follow-up information on respiratory infections (bronchiolitis, pneumonia, otitis media and cold or flu), wheeze and cough symptoms, healthcare utilisation and medication prescription was collected by postal questionnaires at 12 and 24 months. Log binomial and ordered logistic regression models were fitted to the data. RESULTS: Follow-up was obtained on 1344 children. Daycare was associated with increased odds of pneumonia (odds ratio [OR] = 2.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-5.49), bronchiolitis (OR = 1.40, 1.02-1.90), otitis media (OR = 1.68, 1.32-2.14) and emergency department attendance for wheeze (RR = 1.81, 1.17-2.80). Breastfeeding beyond 6 months was associated with a reduced odds of bronchiolitis (OR = 0.55, 0.39-0.77) and otitis media (OR = 0.75, 0.59-0.99). Siblings at home was associated with an increased odds of bronchiolitis (OR = 1.65, 1.18-2.32) and risk of reliever inhaler prescription (RR = 1.37, 1.02-1.85). Visible damp was associated with an increased odds of wheeze (OR = 1.85, 1.11-3.19), and risk of reliever inhaler (RR = 1.73, 1.04-2.89) and inhaled corticosteroid prescription (RR = 2.61, 1.03-6.59). ETS exposure was associated with an increased odds of primary care attendance for cough or wheeze (OR = 1.52, 1.11-2.08). Dense traffic around the child's home was associated with an increased odds of bronchiolitis (OR = 1.32, 1.08-2.29). CONCLUSION: Environmental factors likely influence the wide variation in infection frequency and symptoms observed in early childhood. Larger population studies are necessary to further inform and guide public health policy to decrease the burden of respiratory infections and wheeze in young children.

[Bullous myringitis demystified]. / La myringite bulleuse démystifiée.

Bullous myringitis - also called hemorrhagic myringitis or influenza otitis - is a vague entity, whose etiology and treatment are sources of controversy. In this review article, we demystify bullous myringitis in an illustrated way to recognize and treat it appropriately. Bullous myringitis seems to be a rare and peculiar manifestation of acute otitis media, which can be excessively painful and induce sensorineural hearing loss. Its management may be a medical emergency requiring the opening of hemorrhagic bullae and systemic corticotherapy. The responsible germs are the same as those found in acute otitis media (S. pneumoniæ, H. influenzæ, M. catarrhalis), and its treatment is identical, adapted to each clinical situation.

La myringite bulleuse ­ aussi appelée myringite hémorragique ou otite grippale ­ est une entité floue, dont l'étiologie et le traitement sont sources de controverse. Dans cet article de synthèse, nous démystifions la myringite bulleuse de façon illustrée, afin qu'elle puisse être reconnue et traitée adéquatement. La myringite bulleuse est une manifestation peu fréquente et particulière d'une otite moyenne aiguë, qui peut être excessivement douloureuse et entraîne volontiers une surdité neurosensorielle. Elle peut être une urgence médicale nécessitant l'ouverture des bulles et une corticothérapie systémique. Les germes responsables sont les mêmes que dans l'otite moyenne aiguë (S. pneumoniæ, H. influenzæ, M. catarrhalis) et son traitement identique, adapté à chaque situation clinique.

Pediatric cochlear implants and myringotomy tubes: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the intraoperative findings and post-operative complications associated with patients who have current or history of myringotomy tubes undergoing a cochlear implantation. METHODS: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement were followed. Studies from Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were included. Studies were independently screened and analyzed by 2 reviewers. Publications assessing pediatric patients with current or history of myringotomy tubes at time of cochlear implantation were reviewed. Discrepancies were resolved by a team of 4 reviewers. RESULTS: 172 studies were screened, 15 met inclusion criteria, and 12 were incorporated into the study. All 12 of the studies were retrospective cohort studies. Meta-analysis showed no significant relationship between intraoperative findings at time of cochlear implantation (presence of effusion, granulation tissue, edematous middle ear tissue) and myringotomy tube insertion (p = 0.63). Additionally, there was no significant relationship between current or history of myringotomy tube and acute otitis media episode after CI (p = 0.25). CONCLUSION: There was no association noted between perioperative outcomes of pediatric cochlear implantation and myringotomy tube. This information will be helpful for surgeons planning to perform cochlear implantation in the pediatric population.

Social distancing cut down the prevalence of acute otitis media in children.

Objectives: To evaluate the additional, unintended benefits of social distancing in cutting down the prevalence of acute otitis media (AOM) in children, especially during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) periods. Methods: The daily outpatient attendance of AOM for childhood (from 6 months to 12 years) was compared in the tertiary hospital in Shanghai during pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 year. Results: A total of 24,543 AOM cases were included from 2015 to 2020. When age was taken into account, children in kindergarten (aged 4-6) constitute 66.2% (16,236/24,543) of all case, followed by primary school students (6,441/24,543, 26.2%) and preschoolers <3 years old (1,866/24,543, 7.6%). There was an estimated 63.6% (54.32-70.36%) reduction in the daily outpatient attendance of AOM associated with the introduction of social distancing in 2020 (COVID-19 year). The epidemic trend of AOM in 2015-2019 was characterized by seasonal fluctuations, with highest incidence in December (18.8 ± 0.5%) and lower in February (4.5 ± 0.2%), June (3.7 ± 0.7%) and August (3.5 ± 0.5%). And distribution characteristics of different ages in COVID-19 period broadly in line with that in non-pandemic period. Conclusion: Seasonal fluctuation in the prevalence of AOM was observed in pre-COVID-19 period (2015-2019), with a peak in winter and a nadir in summer. The >50% drop of outpatient attendance of AOM in 2020 (COVID-19 year) suggest that social distancing, mask effects and good hand hygiene can significantly reduce the incidence of AOM, which provides a preventive and therapeutic point of view for AOM.

Relative Humidity Affects Acute Otitis Media Visits of Preschool Children to the Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVE: The associations between climate variables and diseases such as respiratory infections, influenza, pediatric seizure, and gastroenteritis have been long appreciated. Infection is the main reason for acute otitis media (AOM) incidence. However, few previous studies explored the correlation between climatic parameters and AOM infections. The most important meteorological factors, temperature, relative humidity, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), were included in this study. We studied the relationship between these meteorological factors and the AOM visits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a retrospective cross-sectional study. A linear correlation and a linear regression model were used to explore the AOM visits and meteorological factors. RESULTS: A total of 7075 emergency department visits for AOM were identified. Relative humidity was found an independent risk factor for the AOM visits in preschool children (regression coefficient = -10.841<0, P = .039 < .05), but not in infants and school-age children. Average temperature and PM2.5 were not correlated with AOM visits. CONCLUSION: Humidity may have a significant inverse impact on the incidence of AOM in preschool-age children.

Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography-positive ear lesions responsive to immunosuppressive therapy in a patient with otitis media with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

A 74-year-old woman presented with vertigo, left-beating nystagmus, and auditory disturbance 4 months prior, in whom a former physician suspected Meniere's disease. Her signs and symptoms mildly improved with a moderate dose of glucocorticoids, which was eventually tapered. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) was performed 12 days prior to routine examination. Remarkable FDG uptake was observed in the surrounding areas of the bilateral Eustachian tubes and left middle ear, which was only partially detected on magnetic resonance imaging. The patient also tested positive for myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). She was admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with otitis media with ANCA-associated vasculitis (OMAAV) based on the classification criteria. Four months after immunosuppressive therapy, the abnormal ear findings were not observed on follow-up FDG-PET/CT. The clinical course of this case suggests that FDG-PET/CT can detect occult ear involvement better than do other modalities in patients with OMAAV. In addition, FDG-PET/CT-positive ear lesions responded to immunosuppressive therapy. Therefore, FDG-PET/CT can help distinguish OMAAV from other ear diseases with non-inflammatory aetiologies and detect occult treatment-responsive OMAAV lesions in the clinical setting.

Association of e-Cigarette Exposure with Pediatric Otitis Media Recurrence.

OBJECTIVE: Otitis media (OM) is a common inflammatory disease spectrum in children and a leading cause of pediatric physician visits, antibiotic prescriptions and surgery. Tobacco exposure is associated with increased risk of OM recurrence, chronicity and surgeries. Tobacco products have changed dramatically in recent years with the advent of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). While users frequently perceive vape as less harmful than traditional cigarettes, burgeoning evidence supports its contribution to respiratory pathologies. The consequences of secondhand exposure, particularly among children, are understudied. The aim of this study was to examine the association of e-cigarette emissions (EE) with OM recurrence and surgeries in the US. METHODS: Questionnaire data regarding ear infections and tobacco exposure was gathered for all pediatric respondents of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017 to 2018. Weighted analyzes and logistic regression models were used to assess associations. RESULTS: Data was available for 2022 participants (aged 6-17); all were included for analyzes. Tobacco exposure was observed in 42%; 9% were exposed to EE. EE contributed to risk of ≥3 ear infections (OR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.01-2.58, P = .047). After adjustment for significant covariates (race and asthma), the association fell below significance (P = .081). No other significant associations were observed between ear infections, or tympanostomy tube insertion and exposure variables (EE, gestational or other household exposure). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to EE may confer greater risk of pediatric OM than previously identified factors such as household smoke, or gestational exposure. Further investigation of EE and its health implications in children is warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Meningitis post-cochlear implant and role of vaccination.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence, risk factors, and management of meningitis in cochlear implant (CI)users. METHODS: A systematic review was carried out using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register. Articles were considered relevant if reported any data on incidence, clinical presentations, the role of vaccination, management, and outcomes of meningitis after CI. RESULTS: A total of 32 studies including 27358 patients were included, and meningitis was reported in only 202 cases. Meningitis occurred in the period ranging from 1 day to 72 months after CI. A total of 55 patients received the pneumococcal vaccine, while 20 patients received the Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine. A large number of participants (n=47) had associated anatomical malformations, while 62 had otitis media before meningitis. A total of 24 cases required revision surgery along with medical treatment. Full recovery was the outcome reported by the included studies in 19 patients. CONCLUSION: Cochlear implant users seem to be at possible risk of bacterial meningitis at any time after implantation, especially in the presence of risk factors, such as otitis media and anatomical malformations of the cochlea.

A Preliminary Study on Acute Otitis Media in Spanish Children with Late Dinner Habits.

The timing of caloric intake plays an important role in the long-term process that leads to communicable diseases. The primary objective of this study was to analyse whether children who ate dinner early were at lower risks of acute respiratory infections than children who ate dinner late during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2020 on children attending Majorcan emergency services. Our survey on dinner time habits was carried out by using self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 669 children were included in this study. The median dinner time was 8:30 pm. Late dinner eaters accounted for a higher proportion of acute otitis media (7% vs. 3%; p = 0.028) than early dinner eaters. Other infectious diseases were not associated with dinner time habits. CONCLUSIONS: We make a preliminary estimate of the link between late dinner habits and acute otitis media in children. However, no conclusions about causality can be established due to the observational design of the study, and further research is needed in order to confirm the different issues raised by our initial exploration of an emerging research area.

Breastfeeding initiation and duration and acute otitis media among children less than two years of age in Jordan: results from a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common infectious diseases that affects children. Breastfeeding has been linked to a lower risk of AOM in the first three years of childhood. The aim of this study was to identify the association between exclusive breastfeeding and the development of acute otitis media (AOM) and investigate the influence of breastfeeding duration on the presence of AOM. METHODS: In a retrospective case-control study, a sample of 98 children (cases) who were diagnosed with AOM and 98 children (controls) who were not diagnosed with AOM and were younger than two years old were selected from the Jordan University Hospital. Medical records were used to identify children with AOM. For both the case and control groups, the children's mothers completed a self-administered questionnaire about factors linked to the incidence of AOM.The type of feeding and the duration of breastfeeding were assessed using a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: The data indicated that among children who developed AOM, 23.5%were artificiallyfed, while 22.4% and 13.3% were exclusively breastfed for 3 months and 6 months, respectively. Approximately 70.7% of the children without AOM were exclusively breastfed for 6 months, compared with only 29.3% of the children without AOM who were exclusively breastfed for 3 months.Logistic regression revealed that nonexclusive breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for 3 months, and exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months were protective factors against AOM (OR = 0.23, 0.18, and 0.25, respectively; P < 0.05). A short duration of exclusive breastfeeding was considered a risk factor for the development of AOM (OR = 1.7, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The escalation of AOM is tightly connected to the early introduction of formula feeding in the first six months of life. Breastfeeding had a protective impact on the occurrence of AOM. Understanding factors that are associated with the occurrence of AOM in children may support the role of public health institutions and primary health care in the prevention and reduction of AOM episodes and the need for national health strategies to promote breastfeeding.

Adenoidectomy may decrease the need for a third set of tympanostomy tubes in children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether removing or retaining adenoids at the time of placement of a second set of ear tubes impacts the need for a third set of ear tubes later in childhood. STUDY DESIGN: Single-institution retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary academic university hospital. METHODS: We identified pediatric subjects who had undergone a second ear tube placement between 1/1/17 and 9/1/19. Subjects were stratified into two groups: 1) adenoids removed at time of second tympanostomy tube insertion (TT+A) and 2) adenoids retained at time of second tympanostomy tube insertion (TT-A). A subset of children less than age 4 was also studied independently. The primary outcome was number of patients requiring a third set of tympanostomy tubes. RESULTS: A total of 136 subjects met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among children less than 4 years of age (n = 99), the incidence of requiring a third set of tubes was significantly lower in the TT+A group <4 (12.8%; 6/47) compared to the TT-A group <4 (44.2%; 23/52) (p = 0.0008) with an odds ratio of 0.18 (95%CI 0.067-0.51) and number needed to treat of 3.2. CONCLUSION: Performing adenoidectomy in children less than 4 years of age at the second tympanostomy procedure was associated with a reduced incidence of requiring a third set of ear tubes.

[Risk factors and clinical features of the course of recurrent acute otitis media in children]. / Faktory riska i klinicheskie osobennosti techeniya retsidiviruyushchego srednego otita u detei.

This article discusses the problem of recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) in children. OBJECTIVE: To study the risk factors and the clinical course of RAOM in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 148 children (81 boys and 67 girls) from 1 to 14 years old were examined with a diagnosis of recurrent otitis media. The work was carried out in the ENT departments of Pediatric Clinical Hospital No. 13 named after N.F. Filatov, Pediatric Clinical Hospital named after Z.A. Bashlyaeva. The average age of the children was 4.1±1.5 years.All children underwent a clinical study, a laboratory study on the content of the main metabolite of vitamin D - 25(OH)D3 (25-hydroxyvitamin D, or calcidiol) in blood serum. RESULTS: Our clinical examination of children with RAOM allows us to identify the main risk factors for this pathology. Thus, the most significant risk factors for the development of RAOM in children included in the study were: early visits by children to preschool institutions (50.6%), allergic history (39.1%), pathology during pregnancy (28.3%), mixed (38.5%) or artificial (27.7%) feeding in the first year of life, frequent upper respiratory tract diseases (41.2%), burdened heredity in close relatives according to RAOM (33.7%), smoking in the family of one of the parents (65.5%) presence in the family of one more child (34.4%). CONCLUSION: It was shown that the absolute number of children (96%) with RAOM is characterized by a reduced level of 25(OH) vitamin D in the blood serum, which can increase the likelihood of developing episodes of acute otitis media in children and requires therapeutic correction.

[Current views on the treatment and prevention of recurrent acute otitis media in children (review of clinical recommendations)]. / Sovremennye predstavleniya o lechenii i profilaktike retsidiviruyushchego ostrogo srednego otita u detei (obzor klinicheskikh rekomendatsii).

Recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) represents at least 3 or more separate episodes of acute otitis media within 6 months or four or more episodes over a 12-month period. The incidence of recurrent otitis media varies from 5 to 30% and does not tend to decrease. Until now, the questions of conservative and surgical treatment of patients remain unsolved. One of the main methods of treatment is antimicrobial therapy. Recently, the treatment of recurrent otitis media is complicated by the increasing acquired resistance of bacteria to antimicrobial drugs. There is also no consensus on the need for and scope of surgical interventions for children with RAOM. The authors in their article cite existing modern approaches to the prevention and treatment of RAOM in children.

COVID-19 and Acute Otitis Media in Children: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: The association of SARS-CoV-2 with acute otitis media (AOM) in children is poorly understood. METHODS: Cases were identified as a subpopulation within the NO TEARS prospective AOM study in Denver, CO from March to December 2020. Children enrolled were 6 to 35 months of age with uncomplicated AOM; those with AOM and SARS-CoV-2 were included. Data was obtained from electronic medical records and research case report forms. RESULTS: A total of 108 patients enrolled in the NO TEARS study from May 2019 through December 2020 (all subsequently tested for SARS CoV-2). During the COVID-19 pandemic study period (March-December 2020), 16 patients enrolled, and 7 (43.6%) were identified with AOM/COVID-19 co-infection. Fever was present in 3 of 7 children (29%). Four children (57%) attended daycare. Only 2 children (29%) had SARS CoV-2 testing as part of their clinical workup. Mean AOM-SOS© scores were similar among SARS CoV-2 positive and negative patients with no statistical significance with two-sided t-tests: 13.6 (±4.5) versus 14.2 (±4.9) at enrollment, 1.4 (±1.8) versus 4.2 (±4.9) on Day 5, and 0.6 (±0.9) versus 2.5 (±6.1) on Day 14. Among the 7 cases, no child had an AOM treatment failure or recurrence within 3 to 14 or 15 to 30 days respectively. Of the 6 patients with completed bacterial and viral testing, a bacterial pathogen was identified in all 6, and a viral pathogen in 3 (50%). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 and AOM can co-exist. Providers should maintain a high index of suspicion for COVID-19 even in patients with clinical AOM and should not use a diagnosis of AOM to exclude COVID-19.

Postero-superior tube in a grooved bone vs. transtympanic tube for middle ear ventilation: a retrospective study comparing outcomes in the Lebanese pediatric population.

BACKGROUND: Myringotomy with trans-tympanic T-tube (TTT) placement is the most common surgical procedure performed in children. Finding a technique that provides longer aeration periods, lower complications rates, and less need for subsequent interventions will help the healthcare system from preventable events. OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficiency and complications rates of the traditional TTT to those of the novel postero-superior tubes in a grooved bone (TGB) for long-term middle ear ventilation in children suffering from recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM), or chronic otitis media with effusion (COME). METHODS: A total of 200 pretreated ears (96 by TGB and 104 by TTT), were examined after at least 3 years. Data concerning tube condition, and ear outcomes were collected. Pre- and post-operative audiograms were also performed. RESULTS: TGB remained in place for longer periods, and it resulted in significantly lower rates of persistent tympanic membrane (TM) perforation (0% vs. 30.8%), TM retraction (14.6% vs. 32.7%), myringosclerosis (12.5% vs. 38.4%), otorrhea (29.2% vs. 52.9%), and need for topical antibiotics (31.3% vs. 51%). It has also resulted in more significant reduction in the air-bone gap on audiograms. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: TGB could be an effective and safe option for middle ear ventilation following COME or RAOM in children.

Otitis Media and Tympanostomy Tubes.

Acute otitis media (AOM) is an acute infection of the middle ear and, depending on the age of the child, the certainty of diagnosis, and the severity of symptoms, should be either observed closely or treated (with high-dose amoxicillin, if not allergic). Host-related risk factors such as age, sex, cleft palate, or genetic predisposition or environmental risk factors such as seasonality, day care attendance, or tobacco smoke exposure may contribute to recurrent AOM (RAOM) episodes. Tympanostomy tubes are recommended in children with RAOM and an abnormal ear examination at the time of the clinic evaluation.