[Manner of birth and otitis media].

BACKGROUND

There are many risk factors associated with the occurrence of otitis media; cesarean section could be one of them.

REPORT

Two hundred and eighty four children were treated during the first three years of life by the same pediatric service. 47% of these children were treated for otitis media and 53% were not. 41% were delivered by cesarean section, and 59% were vaginal births. The incidence of otitis media in the cesarean section group was 0.504, versus 0.449 in the vaginal birth group.

RESULTS

These data indicate that the fraction of risk of having otitis media that is attributable to cesarean section is 11%; the relative risk is 1.12.

CONCLUSION

The observed effect is not large enough to confirm that cesarean section is a risk factor, but suggests that a carefully controlled prospective study should be conducted.