Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T20:27:53.206Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Prevalence and natural history of otitis media with perforation in Maori school children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

M. Giles  and
I. Asher
M. Giles*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Waikato Base Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand.
I. Asher
Affiliation:
University Department of Paediatrics, Auckland University School of Medicine, Auckland, New Zealand.
*
Dr Malcolm Giles, Otolaryngology Unit, Waikato Base Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

New Zealand Maoris are one of five ethnic groups in developed countries known to have a high rate of ear disease, including perforation of the eardrum (CSOM). It is a strongly held belief by otolaryngologists whose practice dates back to the 1960's that the prevalence of CSOM in Maori children is gradually falling. Despite the obvious practical implications this change has not yet been documented.

The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of CSOM in two surveys conducted in 1978 and 1987 of children living in a North Island Maori community. A second aim was to examine the natural history of CSOM in these children.

The raw data from the 1978 study were reviewed. Of 134 children aged 4–13,12 had CSOM. In 1987 the same age group yielded 12 children out of 250 with CSOM. The prevalence of CSOM fell from 9 per cent to 4 per cent. The incidence of new perforations in 1987 was 1.3 per cent per child per year. It is concluded there has been a fall in the rate of CSOM, although otitis media remains a significant problem for these children.

The probability of a perforation healing was influenced by whether or not the perforation had been observed before: at least 35 per cent of perforations seen for the first time healed, but none of the perforations seen on two occsaions healed spontaneously. It was concluded that perforation of the eardrum can be managed conservatively at first.

Keywords

Otitis media
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 105 , Issue 4 , April 1991 , pp. 257 - 260
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Asher, I., Short, D. (1978) Child health survey: Ruatoki family health clinic. Auckland University School of Paediatrics, Auckland.Google Scholar
Giles, M., O'Brien, P. (1989) Otitis media and hearing loss in the children of the Ruatoki valley: a continuing public health problem. New Zealand Medical Journal, 102: 160–161.Google Scholar
Hamilton, M., McKenzie-Pollack, M., Heath, M. (1980) Aural health in 227 Northland school and preschool children. New Zealand Medical Journal, 91: 59–62.Google Scholar
Miller, M. L. (1979) Epidemiology of otitis media: problem and research focus for geographers. Social Sciences and Medicine, 13D: 233–236.Google ScholarPubMed
Moran, D., Waterford, J., Hollows, F., Jones, D. (1979) Ear disease in rural Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 2: 210–212.Google Scholar
Nelson, S., Berry, R. (1984) Ear disease and hearing loss amongst Navajo Indian children—a mass survey. Laryngoscope, 94: 316–323.Google Scholar
Phillips-Turner, R. G. (1965) Diseases of the ear, nose and throat in Maori schoolchildren. Special report number 24, Medical Statistics Branch; New Zealand Department of Health.Google Scholar
Stanhope, J., Aitchison, W., Swindells, J., Frankish, J. (1978) Ear disease in rural New Zealand schoolchildren. New Zealand Medical Journal, 88: 5–11.Google Scholar
Todd, N., Bowman, C. (1985) Otitis media at Canyon Day, Arizona. Archives of Otolaryngology, 111: 606–608.CrossRefGoogle Scholar