The middle ear effusion in infancy as a predictive value for a chronic otitis media with effusion in young child

The aim of this prospective longitudinal study was to evaluate whether otitis media with effusion (OME) in the first months after birth is a predictive factor for chronic otitis media (ONI) in toddlers. We followed the course of OM in 22 children with OME detected at the age one to two months for tree years and compared it with the course of disease in control group of 22 toddlers. The natural course of OME was very variable. The major finding was excessive morbidity seen in toddlers with OME detected in early infancy. These infants are at high risk for chronic disease.