Resumo

DE O. SAES, Sandra; L. GOLDBERG, Tamara B.  e  MONTOVANI, Jair C.. Secretion of middle ear in infants - occurrence, recurrence and related factors. Rev. bol. ped. [online]. 2007, vol.46, n.3, pp. 216-224. ISSN 1024-0675.

ABSTRACT Objective: The present study aimed at evaluating the occurren¬ce and recurrence of middle ear effusion and possible associated factors in the first two years of life of 190 newborns and infants, participants in the interdisciplinary prevention, detection, and intervention program at the Clínica de Educacáo para Saúde of Universidade do Sagrado Coracáo. Methods: Newborns and infants were monthly submitted to anamneses, otoscopy, behavioral hearing assessment using sound instruments and pure tones (pediatric audiometry) and tympanometry. Results: The results revealed that 68.4% of infants presented one or more episodes of middle ear effusion during their two first years, with more recurrence among males. Peak occurren¬ce was between four and 12 months of age and, the earlier the first episode, the higher the probability of recurrence. Greatest incidence was during May and August. It was found that, of the variables investigated, the period of exclusive breastfeeding actuated as a protector factor. With respect of risk factors, it was observed that passive smoking, gastro-esophageal reflux and respiratory allergy were related with the recurrences of effusion. Conc!usion: Findings revealed the importance of periodic au¬ditory follow-up for infants during their first two years of life, considered to be the critical period of auditory system matura¬tion, during which sensory deprivation can be responsible for damage to the development of speech, language and other au¬ditory abilities

Palavras-chave : Otoscopy; otitis media; acoustic impedance tests.