The burden of otitis media

Otitis media (OM) is one of the most frequent diseases in young children, one of the most common reasons for a child to visit a physician, and also the most common indication for antibiotic prescribing. OM-related hearing loss due to middle ear effusion can delay language acquisition, alter behaviour, and influence quality of life. Conclusive evidence is, however, lacking. More insight into the individual risk factors is required in order to answer the question of why some children recover from OM spontaneously while others need specific intervention. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.