Abstract
Three hundred and six children (380 ears) with acute otitis media (AOM) who were treated in the outpatient department of Sado General Hospital during the one-year period between April 1, 1986, and March 31, 1987 were analyzed. Sixtythree children (79 ears), or 21% of all patients, and treatment for over 14 days. The highest incidence was from 0 to 4 years of age. Boys were more susceptible to acute otitis media than girls. The male-female ratio of AOM was 1.15: 1. Otitis media with effusion occurred in thirty-five ears (9% of all cases) and 16 of them (5% of all cases) required ventilation tube insertion. Sixtytwo percent of the cases which required treatment of over 14 days had a past history of AOM, and 83% of them had sufferd from sinusitis.
Otorrea and swelling of the ear drum were more often seen in the prolonged cases. Haemophilus influenzae was isolated at a high rate (30%) from the middle ear effusion of the prolonged cases.
