Incidence of occult otitis media in healthy infants under one year of age.

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We studied the incidence of occult otitis media in healthy infants under one year of age who visited the pediatric out-patient clinic for a routine medical checkup.For this study, we examined the eardrums of 137 infants by otomicroscopy from June through December 1988.In addition, we used the questionnaires to check the present and past conditions of the ears and nose in these infants.Asymptomatic otitis media was seen in 23 children (17%). The eardrum findings were more compatible with otitis media with effusion than acute otitis media. The incidence of otitis media increased with age; 13% in infants under 3 months of age, 16% in those from 4 to 6 months of age, and 22% in those from 7 to 12 months of age.The responses to the questionnaire showed that none of the mothers suspected any ear disease in the infants at the time of examination, and only infant had a past history of otitis media. The incidence of otitis media was 51% in infants with nasal symptoms, and 4% in those without nasal symptoms.It is important for pediatricians to realize that many infants have asymptomatic otitis media.
耳鼻咽喉科臨床学会の論文