Effects of indoor environmental factors on risk for acute otitis media in a subtropical area

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between indoor environmental factors and acute otitis media in a subtropical area. A case- control study was performed using participants from a prevalence survey tha t included 219 school children with acute otitis media and 219 age- and gen der-matched controls. The study was confined to 4164 primary school childre n aged 6-12 yr attending 8 primary schools in Kaohsiung rural municipalitie s who participated in a prevalence study of the health effects of an indoor environment. An acute otitis media case was defined as a child with acute symptoms (presenting with earache, fever, irritability, and/or discharge fr om the ear) diagnosed by a physician in the previous year. Controls selecte d from the same school did not have chronic or acute respiratory illness or an ear-related illness during the same period. information regarding the h ome environment was obtained using a structured written questionnaire, comp leted by the parents of the children. Of the many indoor environmental fact ors included in this study, only living in a home with indications of dampn ess (mold, flooding, home dampness) showed an association with acute otitis media. It was concluded that dampness in the home is a new public health i ssue in subtropical areas.