Characterization of middle-ear condition of Oporto daycare children up-to 3 years-old: A cross sectional study

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine tympanometric values of children who attend Oporto daycare centers and further analyze any relations with host and environmental factors. MethodsCross sectional study in a randomly selected sample of 117 daycare children up-to 3-years old from Oporto. Tympanometric measures were collected. ResultsChildren presented in left ear (LE) a mean peak pressure (PP) of −156.53daPa and a mean compliance of 0.16cm3. Right ear (RE) revealed a PP of −145.61daPa and a compliance of 0.19cm3. Normal tympanograms (type A) had a lower frequency than abnormal tympanograms (type B and type C). There was a positive association between age and compliance (LE: p=0.016; RE: p=0.013) and between the presence of rhinorrhea and PP (LE: p=0.002; RE: p<0.05). Abnormal tympanograms were more frequent in Spring (RE: p=0.009), in younger children (LE: p=0.03) and in children that had rhinorrhea (LE: p=0.002; RE: p=0.044).Healthy children had a mean PP of −125.19daPa and a mean compliance of 0.21cm3 in LE and a mean PP of −144.27daPa and a mean compliance of 0.22cm3 in RE. ConclusionTympanometric measures presented in this paper may be applicable to Oporto daycare children up-to 3 years-old. Most of daycare children revealed abnormal tympanograms. Age, rhinorrhea and season influenced children's middle-ear condition.