Cholesteatoma: an epidemiologic study among members of kibbutzim in northern Israel.

In this study 3,056 members (10 years of age and older) of the kibbutzim in the northern part of Israel were examined in order to determine the prevalence of chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma. In addition to demographic factors, the influence of altitude was investigated, but the differences were not found to be significant. The prevalence of chronic otitis media was found to be 0.95% and of cholesteatoma, 0.4%. Of the patients who had chronic otitis media, 41% suffered from cholesteatoma as well. Chronic otitis media was more prevalent in males than females (0.02 greater than p greater than 0.01) in the Ashkenazic than Sephardic populations (0.05 greater than p greater than 0.02), and in industrial and agricultural workers (0.05 greater than p greater than 0.02), as compared to others. Among cholesteatoma patients a family history was found in 64%. In 71% of patients, illness began in infancy. Fifteen percent of the patients did not know of their disease until they were examined in this study. These results suggest a high rate of cholesteatoma among chronic otitis media patients and emphasize the need for performing more extensive studies to determine the rate of cholesteatoma in the general population. The necessity for preventive ear examinations, earlier diagnosis, and treatment of cholesteatoma is emphasized.