MIDDLE-EAR PATHOLOGY IN DAY-CARE-CENTER CHILDREN

Background. Middle ear pathology, either otitis media with effusion or tubal dysfunction, is frequently seen in day-care centre children. Re cognition and early treatment of this condition is crucial to the prev ention of chronic otitis media, which is a major cause of hearing loss in later life. Objectives. We aimed to reveal the incidence of silent otitis media in day-care centre children and to determine the predisp osing factors, risk factors and the awareness of the parents of the mi ddle ear disease of their children. Method. Two hundred and thirteen c hildren, aged 3-6 years, were screened in four daycare centres. A ques tionnaire was prepared that would reveal the predisposing factors. Inf ormation was gathered from both the parents and teachers. Children wer e examined by otoscopy, pneumotoscopy, tympanometry and X-rays for sin us pathology. Results. Forty-three of 213 children had middle ear path ology; 39 of them were confirmed by tympanometry; 56.1% of children ha d some degree of sinus pathology. We revealed that, although most of t he children do not have the risk factors, they develop middle ear path ology. Among the parents, 81.4% of them were unaware of the condition. Conclusion. Early diagnosis of middle ear pathologies is necessary fo r prevention of future complications. In early stages the condition is silent. We emphasize the importance of the primary care physician's r ole in diagnosing the early stages of middle ear pathologies and recom mend that teaching of otoscopic and pneumotoscopic skills should be pa rt of the training for family physicians.