Middle ear diseases in relation to atopy and nasal metachromatic cells in infancy.

The relation between middle ear morbidity and atopy was prospectively studied in 44 infants with and 20 without a confirmed family history of atopy. Signs of atopy were recorded at 3, 6, 9 and 18 months of age and signs of middle ear disease were recorded and controlled as needed. Twenty-seven children developed definite signs of atopy, while 12 showed probable signs and 25 remained free from allergic symptoms. The number of episodes of acute otitis media was higher and the duration of episodes of otitis media with effusion were longer in 13 infants with respiratory tract allergy, as compared with 14 allergic children with only skin manifestations and with 25 non-atopic children. Middle ear diseases were more commonly encountered in infants in whom nasal metachromatic cells were detected. Children exposed to tobacco smoke suffered more often from respiratory tract infections but not from increased middle ear morbidity in comparison with non-exposed children. In conclusion, middle ear morbidity during the first 18 months of life is more common in atopic children with asthma than in non-atopic infants and early appearance of nasal metachromatic cells is associated with middle ear infections.