Prevalence of acute otitis media among children with pyrexia in a Nigerian hospital

Abstract

Objective This was to determine the prevalence of acute otitis media in children with pyrexia in an area with malaria endemicity and also the relevance of socio-economic factors on AOM. Methods This prospective study was conducted between January 2004 and June 2005 at the emergency paediatric unit of the hospital among children aged 0–15 years presenting with pyrexia. All the children had full ENT examinations in addition to the evaluation by the emergency paediatricians. Diagnosis of AOM was based on history, examinations and otoscopic findings. Results Two-hundred children with pyrexia were seen and the age range was 3 months to 15 years (mean 4.73). The male/female ratio was 1.7:1.03 years; 32 had features of AOM. Two third of the children were from the low socio-economic class. Conclusion AOM with late presentation in the suppurative stage of the disease is a common cause of pyrexia in children with a male preponderance and two third of the children were from the low socio-economic status. There is the need for otoscopic examinations of all pyretic children as the resultant hearing loss is related to difficulties in language acquisition in children below 2 years of age with effects on literacy and school achievement.