CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RECURRENT ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA IN CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS AT THE NATIONAL OTORHINORARYNOLOGY HOSPITAL

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ABSTRACT

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) in children under 6 years old at the National Otorhinolaryngology Hospital.Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on children under 6 years of age who were examined and diagnosed with RAOM at the National Otorhinolaryngology Hospital from November 2024 to October 2025. Results: The age group from 12 months to 3 years exhibited the highest incidence of the disease (72.1%). The male-to-female ratio was 52.9% to 47.1%. A total of 30 patients (44.1%) experienced three episodes of acute suppurative otitis media within one year. The most common presenting symptoms leading to medical consultation were nasal discharge and productive cough, observed in 18 out of 68 cases (26.5%). The most frequent otoscopic finding in both ears was a bulging tympanic membrane (60.3% in both the right and left ear). Grade III adenoid hypertrophy was predominant, accounting for 43 out of 68 cases (63.2%). All patients had congested nasal mucosa (100%). Thirty-five patients had purulent discharge in the nasal floor (51.5%). Children aged 12 to under 36 months exhibited a wider range and greater frequency of recurrent episodes (3–8 episodes per year). Moreover, children attending daycare had a higher recurrence rate of acute suppurative otitis Conclusions: The age group most commonly affected by recurrent acute otitis media in children is 12 months to 3 years. The most frequently observed otoscopic finding is a bulging tympanic membrane, corresponding to the suppurative stage of acute otitis media. There is a statistically significant association between age at disease onset, daycare attendance, with the number of recurrent otitis media episodes.