Glue Ear: Guide

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Facts and figures

Acute otitis media and Glue Ear ‘are together responsible for sizeable costs of about £2-300 million annually, and reflect the magnitude of the problem to the NHS.’ (Williamson et al. 2006).

‘It is thought that between 50% and 85% of children experience at least one episode of AOM by 3 years of age with the peak incidence being between 6 and 15 months.’ (Qureishi et al 2014, citing Klein 1989 )

‘At least 80% of the children had otitis media with effusion on at least one occasion before the age of four.’ (Zielhuis et al 1990)

Otitis media with effusion is the commonest cause of hearing impairment in children in the developed world, and can affect as many as 80% of children at some stage.’ (Qureishi et al 2014, citing: van Zon et al 2012, )

Glue Ear is significantly more prevalent in the winter months
8 month olds 36.6% in February compared to 16.4% in August
5yrs 1 month  16% in February 3.1% in August (Midgley et al 2000)

22,809 grommet operations took place in 2013-2014 with an average cost of £802 per operation (Department of Health 2015)

Children who used autoinflation were more likely to have normal tympanograms one month later.  (Williamson et al. 2015)

References:

Department of Health (2015)  NHS reference costs 2013-2014

Klein, J. (1989) ‘Epidemiology of otitis media.’ Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 1989;8 (Suppl 1):S9.

Kubba H, Pearson JP, Birchall JP, (2000) ‘The aetiology of otitis media with effusion: a review’. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci.;25(3) pp.181–194.

Qureishi, A., Lee, Y., Belfield, K., Birchall, J. Daniel, M.  (2014) ‘Update on otitis media - prevention and treatment.’ Infection and Drug Resistance (7) pp. 15-24

Williamson, I., Benge, S., Mullee, M., Little, P. (2006) ‘Consultations for middle ear disease, antibiotic prescribing and risk factors for reattendance.’ British Journal of General Practice, March, 56 pp. 170-175.

Williamson, I., Vennik, J., Harnden, A., Voysey, M., Perera, R., Kelly, S., Yao, G., Raftery, J., Mant, D., Little, P. (2015) ‘Effect of nasal balloon autoinflation in children with otitis media with effusion in primary care: an open randomized controlled trial.’ Canadian Medical Association Journal. Vol. 187 no.13. pp 961-969

van Zon, A, van der Heijden, G., van Dongen, T., Burton, MJ, Schilder, A. (2012) Antibiotics for otitis media with effusion in children [review] Cochrane Database Syst Rev.;9:CD009163.

Zielhuis.G., Rach.G., Van Den Bosch.A., Van Den Broek.P., (1990) ‘The prevalence of otitis media with effusion: a critical review of the literature.’ Clinical Otolaryngol 15 pp 283 – 288

Zielhuis.G., Rach.G., Van Den Broek.P., (1990) ‘The occurrence of otitis media with effusion in Dutch pre-school children.’ Clinical Otolaryngol 15 pp 147 -153

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