Prevalence of Otitis Media with Effusion in School-Age Children

Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common, often asymptomatic condition in children, characterized by fluid accumulation in the middle ear without signs of acute infection. If undiagnosed, it can lead to hearing loss and impaired academic performance. Objective: To determine the prevalence of OME among school-aged children and identify associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on 500 5–12-year-olds from 10 randomly selected schools. Diagnostic methods included clinical otoscopic examination, tympanometry, and pure-tone audiometry. Risk variables included recent upper respiratory infections, passive smoking, and socioeconomic level. Results: Overall, 11.2% of people had OME, with 18.3% in the 5–7 age group. In 80.4% of children, bilateral effusion occurred. Significant relationships were detected with recent URTIs (p<0.01), passive smoking (p<0.001), and worse socioeconomic level (p = 0.03). In 85.7% of OME cases, conductive hearing loss was mild. Conclusion: OME is prevalent among schoolchildren, especially in younger age groups. Early screening and awareness of risk factors are vital to prevent long-term auditory and developmental complications. Keywords: Otitis media with effusion, Tympanometry, School-aged children, Hearing loss