Infants with otitis media with effusion, with and without acute otitis media.

Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common infectious disease in childhood. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between AOM and otitis media with effusion (OME). A nine-year retrospective study was conducted of 131 children with OME (219 ears).The patients were classified into four groups according to the clinical course of hearing impairment.The incidence of AOM in OME patients was 65.6% on the average, and a history of AOM was a significant risk factor for the development of chronic OME.The diagnosis of AOM is difficult in young infants. Our results suggest that AOM in early infancy is a strong predictor of recurrent middle ear problems later in childhood.In order to prevent this, AOM in young infants must be treated as effectively as possible. This therapy includes proper antimicrobial treatment, myringotomy, drainage of the middle ear and careful follow up.