Surgery for otitis media with effusion in children and its relationship to parental smoking.

A study was conducted to ascertain whether there is any relationship between parenteral smoking and various factors in children undergoing surgery for otitis media with effusion. Information was recorded on 115 children admitted to hospital for grommet insertion. Details of parenteral smoking habits, previous surgery for otitis media with effusion and operative findings were noted. A group of 36 children with healthy ears attending an orthoptic clinic were used as controls. Those children with at least one parenteral smoker were found to have a higher change of being admitted to hospital for grommet insertion and were more likely to have had previous surgery for otitis media with effusion.