ASSOCIATION OF CHLAMYDIA-PNEUMONIAE WITH OTITIS-MEDIA IN CHILDREN

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common cause of acute and persistent respira tory tract infections. The prevalence of C. pneumoniae was studied usi ng the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in throat swabs from 85 consecu tive children with respiratory tract infections and 86 healthy childre n. In retrospect, it became evident that this study was conducted in t he midst of a local C. pneumoniae epidemic. 38 (45%) of the sick child ren and 5 (5.7%) of the healthy children were positive for C. pneumoni ae by PCR. 26 of the sick children (mean age 6.4 years) were found to have otitis media either at the time of examination or shortly thereaf ter. Six of 9 children with acute otitis media were PCR positive for C . pneumoniae and 7 of the 9 had specific antibody responses indicating active infection. 10 of 17 children diagnosed as having otitis media with effusion were found to be positive for C. pneumoniae by PCR. Seve n children had or developed persistent otitis media with effusion. Chl amydia pneumoniae was demonstrated by PCR from the middle ear fluid in 1 of the children. The results obtained from this study indicate that C. pneumoniae may be involved in the aetiology of otitis media.