Secretory otitis media in Brazilian children.

Four hundred and fifty-seven Brazilian children with secretory otitis media were examined in a five-year period. Three hundred and sixty-nine were followed for various periods of time. Myringotomy and insertion of ventilating tubes (VT) was performed in 79 children. Suppurative otitis media occurred at least once as a complication in 42 (53%) patients with VT. Two children with VT had permanent perforation of ear drums. Two hundred and ninety subjects were treated clinically. Efficacy of the drugs prescribed was not evident. Among these children, 66 (22.8%) had otitis media at least once. Unilateral tympanic perforation as a consequence of otitis media was observed in one case that was treated clinically. The last otological examination revealed that normal ear drums were found in 27% of the male population (59 children) and 38.3% of the female population (59 children).