Chronic suppurative otitis media: prevalence and practices among rural South Indian children

In order to determine the prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media (C SOM) in rural South Indian children, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 914 children (484 buys and 430 girls) from four primary schools and 12 nurseries (balwadis; preschool), of adjacent villages of North Arcot Dis trict of Tamil Nadu state. The preschool children were aged 2-5 years, whil e the ages of the primary school children ranged from 6 to 10 years. The ov erall prevalence rate of CSOM was found to be 6%. The disease was equally p revalent in preschool children (5.7%) and primary school children (6.2%) (P = 0.94). Cholesteatomatous ear disease was observed in 1.2% of children, t hose of the older age group having a slightly higher prevalence rate (1.5%) than the younger age group (0.7%). Parental beliefs and existing practices with respect to the disease are also presented. (C) 1999 Published by Else vier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.