Defective Immunocompetence in Otitis-Prone Young Children

Abstract

In a prospective study highly otitis-prone children were found to have significantly lower levels of IgG 2 at 12 and 32 months of age compared to healthy age matched controls. As a confirmation of these results the same otitis prone children had significantly lower activity compared to healthy children with regard to specific antipneumococcal antibody activity of both the IgG 1 and IgG 2 subclasses. These findings support the concept that otitis proneness is partly due to a defective immunocompetence.