PERSISTENCE OF MIDDLE-EAR DYSFUNCTION AFTER RECURRENT ACUTE OTITIS-MEDIA

The presence of otitis media with effusion (OME) and high negative pre ssure (-200 to -400 mm H2O), were investigated in the follow-up of a r andomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial on the efficacy of amo xicillin/clavulanic acid in the treatment of acute otitis media. All c hildren in this study were recruited from a general practice populatio n. Tympanometry results 1 month from the start of an episode of acute otitis media were taken as outcome criteria. Bilateral middle ear dysf unction was defined as bilateral OME, unilateral OME and contralateral or bilateral high negative pressure. Bilateral middle ear dysfunction was present in 47.9% of the patients. Of all the investigated factors of possible influence (age, sex, season, laterality of acute otitis m edia, therapy, and clinical course of acute otitis media), only season showed a statistically significant influence on the persistence of OM E/high negative pressure (P = 0.001). Bilateral middle ear dysfunction was shown to be of prognostic value for the risk of a recurrence of a cute otitis media (odds ratio 3.75).