A population study of otitis media in childhood.

A total of 494 children with an average age of 3 1/2 years were studied with a view to elucidating the frequency of both acute and secretory otitis media and their relationship, if any, to a number of social factors. Of the children, 41% had had at least one attack of otitis media, in 49% of these associated with aural discharge. 70% of the children were attending day-care centres, and the incidence of otitis media was highest in this group. According to Jerger's classification of the tympanometric curves, 51% of these were of type A, 17% of type B, and 32% of type C. Significantly higher frequencies of types B and C curves were found among children attending day-care centres.