Effects of sulphur dioxide and smoke on the incidence of secretory otitis media.

The study deals with the effects of sulphur dioxide and smoke as air pollutants on the incidence of secretory otitis media. Although various atmospheric irritants, such as sulphur dioxide and smoke, have been reported to increase proneness to infection and allergy stabilization, and to cause Eustachian tube obstruction and development of secretory otitis media by way of infection and allergy reaction, such statements appear to be challenged by the results obtained in this study. No correlation was found between the number of children hospitalized for secretory otitis media, and the mean and maximum monthly concentrations of sulphur dioxide and smoke in the air. Although there has been a steady decrease in sulphur dioxide and smoke concentrations over the past decade, the number of cases of secretory otitis media has not only failed to follow that decrease but has actually increased.