Otitis Media in Infancy and the Development of Asthma and Atopic Disease

Otitis media is a frequent respiratory infection of early childhood and it is important to fully understand the long-term complications and sequelae. Literature examining otitis media in early childhood and subsequent development of atopic disease is sparse despite there being vast literature on the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current allergy and asthma reports 2012-12, Vol.12 (6), p.547-550
Main Authors: MacIntyre, Elaina A., Heinrich, Joachim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Distribution
Age of Onset
Allergology
Asthma - epidemiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Comorbidity
Eczema - epidemiology
Humans
Hypersensitivity, Immediate - epidemiology
Incidence
Infant
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Otitis (Dp Skoner
Otitis Media - epidemiology
Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology
Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - epidemiology
Risk Factors
Section Editor
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Description
Summary:Otitis media is a frequent respiratory infection of early childhood and it is important to fully understand the long-term complications and sequelae. Literature examining otitis media in early childhood and subsequent development of atopic disease is sparse despite there being vast literature on the association between respiratory infections and atopic disease. Current data support the hypothesis that otitis media infections in early life, especially frequent or severe infections, influence the developing immune system, resulting in increased risk for asthma. Recent findings have also reported an association between otitis media and eczema. Atopic children and those with a family history of atopy appear to be at greater risk. Future work should investigate the specific mechanisms involved. It is possible that vaccines and preventive strategies aimed at reducing the burden of otitis media could also reduce the burden of childhood asthma and atopic disease.
ISSN:1529-7322
1534-6315
DOI:10.1007/s11882-012-0308-x