Epidemiology of acute otitis media among Saudi children.

An epidemiological survey was carried out with 9540 children aged up to 12 years to study the prevalence of acute suppurative otitis media and the rate of hearing impairment. A total of 100 (1.05%) were diagnosed with acute otitis media (AOM). The incidence was found to be higher among young children up to 4-years-old and lower in the age group 8-12 years. The male children had slightly higher rate of AOM as compared with female (1.36 and 0.80%), respectively, (P < 0.01). The prevalence of AOM in the children from the different provinces varied, being higher in those from the Southern and Central regions. Also it was found that the prevalence of ASOM was higher among children whose parents were cousins compared with non-relative parents (1.38 and 0.74%) (P > 0.001). Those with poor socio-economic condition showed higher rate especially those living in the Southern part with poor or inadequate health services provided. ASOM was significantly associated with hearing impairment (P < 0.00001).