Otitis media and passive smoking

Published on June 6, 2008 4:39 AM

A group of researchers from Perth’s Telethon Institute for Child Health Research have found a strong link between childhood ear infections and passive smoking.

The scientists investigated the causes of otitis media (middle ear infections), using 100 Aboriginal children and 180 non-Aboriginal children.

Otitis media is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear. This inflammation often begins when infections that cause sore throats, colds, or other respiratory or breathing problems spread to the middle ear. These can be viral or bacterial infections. Seventy-five percent of children experience at least one episode of otitis media by their third birthday. Almost half of these children will have three or more ear infections during their first 3 years. Although otitis media is primarily a disease of infants and young children, it can also affect adults.

The chief Investigator, Dr Deborah Lehmann, who heads the Institute's infectious diseases research, said ear infections were the most common reason that young children see a doctor and can cause life-long problems.

Dr Lehmann reported: "Up to 20% of children have more than three ear infections between 1 and 2 years of age. If their hearing is damaged, it can seriously affect their educational outcomes and social circumstances in adulthood. In Aboriginal children, these ear infections typically start at a younger age, are much more common and more likely to result in hearing loss."

The results of this investigation were not so good:

Otitis media was diagnosed at least once in 74% of Aboriginal children and 45% of non-Aboriginal children.

64% of Aboriginal children and 40% of non-Aboriginal children were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.

If we eliminate exposure to tobacco smoke we could reduce ear infections by 27% in Aboriginal children and 16% in non-Aboriginal children.

The impact of passive smoking at home on ear infections was reduced if the children also attended day care.

Dr Lehmann said there is evidence that passive smoking can increase the adherence of bacteria in the respiratory passages and depress the immune system.

Ear infections are also the most commonly diagnosed childhood illness in the United States.