Risk of acute otitis media in relation to acute bronchiolitis in children

Abstract

Objective: A prospective study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence and the etiology of acute otitis media (AOM) in children with acute bronchiolitis. Also to determine whether AOM occurring with acute bronchiolitis is accompanied with another pathogens or not.

Subjects and methods: One hundred and eighty children with acute bronchiolitis aged 3-18 months who were admitted to pediatrics department, Minia University hospital, were included in the study done in the winter and spring of 2009. In patients with AOM at entry or developed AOM within 14 days, Gram-stained smears, bacterial cultures, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed on middle-ear aspirates to detect the presence of bacterial pathogens and RSV respectively.

Results: One hundred children (55.6%) with acute bronchiolitis had AOM at entry or developed AOM within 14 days, 45 patients (25%) had developed otitis media with effusion, and only 35 patients (19.4%) remained free throughout the 2-week observation period. Of 135 middle-ear aspirates (65 unilateral and 35 bilateral), bacterial pathogens were isolated in 86 patients (86%) [37 bacteria alone "37%" and 49 mixed bacteria and RSV "49%"], RSV was identified in 56 patients (56%) of middle ear aspirates [mixed with bacteria in 49 patients and RSV alone in 7 cases (7%).

Conclusion: We concluded that bacterial AOM is a complication in most children with acute bronchiolitis. Streptococcus pneumonia and Haemophilus influenza were the commonest organisms isolated from middle ear aspirate. RSV is identified in 56% of acute otitis media with bronchiolitis.