Abstract

ALVAREZ CARMENATE, Marlene et al. Some clinical-epidemiological features and the management of acute otitis media in children aged less than 5. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2011, vol.27, n.4, pp. 513-517. ISSN 0864-2125.

Introduction: The acute otitis media is the commonest complicated high acute respiratory infection in children aged less than 5 and one of the causes of frequent visit to consultation. Objective: To describe some clinical-epidemiological features of the acute otitis media and its management. Methods: A longitudinal, prospective and descriptive study conducted in 120 children aged less than 5 admitted due to a diagnosis of acute otitis media in the Children Teaching Hospital from Cerro municipality from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007. During the collection stage of information he medical records of patients were reviewed to measure the clinical variables and the drugs use and interviewing parents for the work with some variable not registered in the children medical record. Results: From the total of patients, 72 (60 %) were less than 1 year, 76 (63.3 %) were males, 96 (80 %) had repeated respiratory personal infections as pathological background, and 92 (76.6 %) with family pathological backgrounds of acute otitis media, 82 (68.3 %) live together with smokers, 78 (65 %) had an early weaning, 76 (63.3 %) used some type of pacifier. The 100 % of patients underwent otoscopy and 88 (73 %) had an inappropriate use of antibiotics. Conclusions: There was predominance of an age less than 1 year, male sex, children with situations of repeated respiratory infections and family history of acute otitis media, living together with smokers, those with an early weaning before the six months old and using some type of pacifier. The otoscopy as a diagnostic indicator was positive in the total of patients and also, there was an inappropriate use of antibiotics.

Keywords : Acute otitis media; children less than 5 years old.