Risk factors for persistent middle-ear effusions. Otitis media, catarrh, cigarette smoke exposure, and atopy.

To ascertain risk factors for persistent middle-ear effusions (PMEE), we interviewed the parents of two groups of children. The first consisted of 76 children with PMEE who were admitted to the hospital for tympanostomy-tube insertion. The second, a control group, consisted of 76 children admitted for other types of surgery, who were matched for age, sex, season, and surgical ward. Nearly all (97%) of the children admitted for insertion of tympanostomy tubes had one or more episodes of suppurative otitis media. Only 59% of the control children had previous ear infections. Frequent ear infections sharply increased the risk for persistent effusions. Catarrh, household cigarette smoke exposure, and atopy also occurred more frequently in children with PMEE. The risk for middle-ear effusions was greatest when these three factors were all present. The avoidance of daily exposure to domestic tobacco smoke and, if atopic, of specific allergens should be included in the medical treatment of children with PMEE.