Risk Factors for Otitis Media in Children Referred to Abuzar Hospital in Ahvaz: A Case-Control Study

Introduction Otitis media is one of the most common causes of infection in preschool children. The most damaging complication of otitis media is temporary or permanent hearing loss. This study aimed to determine the important risk factors for otitis media. Methods In this case-control study, 625 children aged six months to seven years were examined from winter to spring 2020, and 53 children with otitis media were allocated to the case group and the same number to the control group. The chi-square test was used to identify the risk factors affecting otitis media, and the risk factors were compared between the case and control groups. Logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between the incidence of otitis media and risk factors. Results Bivariate analysis revealed the following primary risk factors for otitis media: using pacifiers or bottle feeding, working mother, seasonal rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, tonsillopharyngitis, rhinorrhea, and adenoid hypertrophy (P<0.05). In logistic regression analysis, using pacifiers or bottle feeding (odds ratio [OR]=0.156, P=0.000), working mother (OR=0.226, P=0.000), seasonal rhinitis (OR=0.175, P=0.000), allergic rhinitis (OR=5.20, P=0.000) and adenoid hypertrophy (OR=1.57, P=0.000) were identified as the most important risk factors. Conclusion Adenoid hypertrophy and allergic rhinitis increased the risk of otitis media more than the other risk factors. Therefore, pediatricians should increase their awareness of the existence of these risk factors in a patient, and take the appropriate diagnostic steps and implement therapeutic care to prevent language and speech complications.