
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gribben, Barry 
A1  - Salkeld, Lesley 
A1  - Hoare, Simon 
A1  - Jones, Hannah 
T1  - The incidence of acute otitis media in New Zealand children under five years of age in the primary care setting
JF  - Journal of Primary Health Care
JO  - J Prim Health Care
Y1  - 2012
VL  - 4
IS  - 3
SP  - 205
EP  - 212
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/HC12205 
N2  - INTRODUCTION: Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common childhood infection. Baseline data are required to evaluate potential changes in the epidemiology of AOM with new public health measures. AIM: To estimate the incidence of AOM in children under five years of age in primary care in New Zealand. METHODS: Using a cohort study design, consultation notes from 1 November 2008 to 31 October 2009 from 63 primary care facilities were analysed for new and recurrent episodes of AOM, complications, antimicrobial use and outcome. RESULTS: There were 19 146 children in the sample. The raw incidence of AOM was 273 per 1000 children (27.3%; 95% CI 216&#x96;330). Of the 3885 children, 2888 (74%) had one episode of AOM and 152 (4%) of these children developed recurrent AOM. Incidence declined with age. There was no difference in incidence between Maori, Pacific and &#x91;Other&#x92; ethnicities. Antibiotics were used to treat 2653 (51%) AOM episodes and 113 (4.3%) of these children re-presented within three days of antibiotic therapy for persistent symptoms. Tympanic membrane perforation was the only complication noted, observed in 62 (1%) episodes. DISCUSSION: These data indicate that AOM is an important and frequent childhood infection in New Zealand. The show a significant decline in the use of antibiotics to manage AOM in concordance with accepted best practice. The complication rate of AOM is likely under-represented. This study enables future research into the effectiveness of current and future immunisations and changing management practices in New Zealand. KEYWORDS: Otitis media; incidence; child, preschool; New Zealand, antibiotic 
ER  -

