Epidemiology of chronic suppurative otitis media among Saudi children--a comparative study of two decades.

An epidemiological survey to study the prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) was completed in February 2000. About 9540 children aged up to 12 years were examined clinically by an otolaryngologist. All 125 children (1.3%) suffered from CSOM, nine with cholesteatoma. The prevalence of CSOM in the Central province of the Kingdom was found to be 1.15%. During the first study done in 1982, the prevalence was 5.5% among 293 children aged 6-18 years. In the second study done and completed in 1991 where 6421 children were surveyed, 94 children found to suffer from CSOM i.e. 1.5% with six children having cholesteatoma. These results showed a decrease in incidence of CSOM in the Central province, although in other parts of the Kingdom, the prevalence was found to be as high as 2.89%. The factors predisposing to or associated with chronic ear disease will be discussed, and the results will be compared with results published from other centers.