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Prevalence of otitis media among children and adolescents attending a paediatric HIV reference centre in São Paulo, Brazil
A.M. Silva1, M.R.D.O. Latorre1, L.F. Tanaka1, T.C.R. Oliveira1, C.L.A. Barbieri2, H.H.S. Marques2
1School of Public Heath - University of Sao Paulo, Epidemiology, São Paulo, Brazil, 2University of São Paulo, Instituto da Criança do Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil
Background: Children and adolescents living with HIV/Aids may suffer from a variety of infections, among them, upper respiratory tract infections, especially otitis media (OM). OM is more frequent and sometimes more severe among HIV-infected patients when compared to other children. We aimed to describe the presence of otitis media, at any time of follow up, among children and adolescents living with HIV/Aids, attending a reference HIV centre Children's Institute located in São Paulo city, Brazil.
Methods: We evaluated 149 patients who are currently attending the Infectology Service at Children's Institute. All information was obtained from hospital records, chi-square test was performed.
Results: Males represented 50.3% of individuals. Age ranged from 2 to 19 years (mean: 13 years) and most frequent age group was 9 to 12 years (53.7%), followed by 15 years and older (33.6%). Most patients acquired the virus through mother-to-child-transmission (86.6%). 18.1% presented recurrent acute otitis media (range 3 to 7 episodes/year; mean 3.5 episodes). Prevalence of recurrent acute otitis media was 5.9% in age group 2-8 years, 21.0% in age group 9-14 years and 18.0% in age group 15 years and older (p=0,341). There was no difference according to sex (p=0.862). 22.5% presented chronic suppurative otitis media (range 1 to 4 episodes; mean between 2 episodes was 25 months). Prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media was 5.3% in age group 2-8 years, 26.2% in age group 9-14 years and 22.0% in age group 15 years and older (p=0,141) and females had a tendency to have higher prevalence than males (28.4% x 16.0%; p=0.069).
Conclusions: It is extremely important to precociously detect, evaluate and observe any clinical alteration that these patients may develop, including otitis. That may result in hearing alterations or lead to hearing loss.
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