Prospective epidemiological study of secretory otitis media in children not attending kindergarten. A prevalence study.

This prevalence study of secretory otitis media (SOM) comprised 210 children who were not attending or had not attended kindergarten. Children in home care/private day care with up to two children were analyzed separately. In this group the prevalence peak was at one year, being at that age about 40%. The prevalence decreased from the age 1-2 years, but thereafter it was steady at about 15-20%. The rest of the children showed another at the age of 4-5 years. Bilateral SOM was most common at the age of one year, but also showed another peak at 5 years of age. [corrected]