|
Baseline characteristics
|
|
Age (months) mean ± SD
|
60. 7 ± 32.2
|
73.2 ± 38.3
|
|
Sex—male (n; %)
|
15 (48)
|
18 (58)
|
|
Breastfeeding (n; %)
|
28 (90)
|
27 (87)
|
|
Breastfeeding until at least the first 6 months of life (n; %)
|
20 (71)
|
19 (70)
|
|
Child day care attendance (n; %)
|
1 (3)
|
1 (3)
|
|
Duration per week (h) mean ± SD
|
50
|
35
|
|
Pre-school or school attendance (n; %)
|
21 (68)
|
20 (64)
|
|
Duration per week (hours) mean ± SD
|
4.9 ± 2.0
|
4.7 ± 2.0
|
|
Parental education (father)a
|
|
Primary education (i.e. elementary school)
|
1 (3)
|
2 (6)
|
|
Secondary education (i.e. middle and high school)
|
13 (42)
|
17 (55)
|
|
Tertiary education (e.g. diploma, bachelor, masters)
|
16 (52)
|
11 (35)
|
|
Parental education (mother)a
|
|
Primary education (i.e. elementary school)
|
0 (0)
|
2 (6)
|
|
Secondary education (i.e. middle and high school)
|
12 (39)
|
17 (55)
|
|
Tertiary education (e.g. diploma, bachelor, masters)
|
19 (61)
|
11 (35)
|
|
Pneumococcal vaccinations (n; %)
|
9 (29)
|
7 (23)
|
|
Influenzae vaccinations (n; %)
|
6 (19)
|
7 (23)
|
|
≥ 3 episodes of acute respiratory infections in the past year (n; %)
|
23 (74)
|
22 (71)
|
|
First episode of AOM
|
20 (64)
|
21 (68)
|
|
First episode of AOM at ≤ 2 years of age (n; %)
|
8 (26)
|
3 (10)
|
|
≥ 3 episodes of ear infection in the past year (n; %)
|
3 (10)
|
2 (6)
|
|
> 3 children in one house (n; %)
|
0 (0)
|
0 (0)
|
|
Passive smoking (n; %)
|
14 (45)
|
20 (64)
|
|
Ear discharge (n; %)
|
11 (35)
|
8 (26)
|
|
Concomitant diseases (n; %)
|
|
Allergic rhinitis
|
3 (10)
|
2 (6)
|
|
Bronchial asthma
|
0 (0)
|
1 (3)
|
|
History of atopy in the family
|
12 (39)
|
9 (29)
|
|
AOM lateralisation—unilateral (n; %)
|
20 (64)
|
18 (58)
|
|
Clinical characteristics
|
|
Common cold
|
27 (87)
|
28 (90)
|
|
Nose abnormalities (e.g. oedema, discharge)
|
23 (85)
|
23 (82)
|
|
Tonsil abnormalities (e.g. hyperaemic, oedema)
|
15 (55)
|
15 (53)
|
|
Throat abnormalities (e.g. hyperaemic, oedema)
|
15 (55)
|
8 (28)
|
|
Diagnosis of AOM
|
|
Confirmed by otoscope
|
|
Hyperaemic tympanic membrane only
|
12 (39)
|
17 (55)
|
|
Hyperaemic tympanic membrane and other signs of inflammation/middle ear effusionb
|
23 (74)
|
21 (68)
|
|
Confirmed by otoscope and clarified by tympanometryc
|
25 (86)
|
25 (86)
|
|
Initial antibiotic given (n; %)
|
|
Amoxicillin
|
4 (13)
|
11 (35)
|
|
Amoxicillin/clavulanate
|
5 (16)
|
8 (26)
|
|
Cefixime
|
12 (39)
|
3 (10)
|
|
Cefadroxil
|
1 (3)
|
1 (3)
|
|
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
|
0 (0)
|
1 (3)
|
|
Clarithromycin
|
1 (3)
|
0 (0)
|
|
Other treatment given by doctors at initial visit (n; %)
|
|
Acetaminophen
|
9 (29)
|
16 (52)
|
|
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
|
4 (13)
|
5 (16)
|
|
Decongestants and/or antihistamine
|
26 (84)
|
22 (71)
|
|
Cough medicine
|
18 (58)
|
14 (45)
|
|
Antibiotic ear drops
|
9 (29)
|
6 (19)
|
|
Nasal (topical) decongestant
|
6 (19)
|
2 (6)
|
|
Nasal corticosteroid
|
0 (0)
|
1 (3)
|
|
Vitamins or herbals
|
3 (10)
|
8 (26)
|
|
Ear diathermy
|
0 (0)
|
1 (3)
|
|
Inhalation
|
0 (0)
|
1 (3)
|
|
Others (e.g. mefenamic acid, nasal douching)
|
3 (10)
|
5 (16)
|
|
Tympanometry test (n; %)
|
29 (93)
|
29 (93)
|
|
Complete
|
15 (52)
|
18 (62)
|
|
Partial completion
|
0 (0)
|
6 (21)
|
|
Sufficient values for analysis
|
15 (52)
|
22 (76)
|
|
Type A
|
4 (27)
|
6 (27)
|
|
Type C1
|
2 (13)
|
4 (18)
|
|
Type C2
|
1 (7)
|
1 (4)
|
|
Type B (or flat)
|
8 (53)
|
11 (50)
|
