Otalgia epidemiology and demographics

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S[2]

Overview

Otalgia, or ear pain, is commonly due to otitis media which is predominantly an infectious disease seen in children. Otitis media ia an infection of the middle ear. Otitis externa is a less frequent cause of ear pain, and is often observed in swimmers and hence names swimmer's ear.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Otitis Media

• Acute otitis media (AOM) is predominantly a disease of children. It is the most common reason children are brought to their family physician, and the most common reason for the administration of antibiotics in children.
• Otitis media is most prevalent in infants. Immunization of infants with the 7 valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) has decreased the incidence of otitis media.
• Males are affected more than females.
• Peak incidence is between 6-18 months of age.
• About 30% of children younger than 3 years of age visit their primary care physicians with AOM each year, and by their third birthdays 80% to 90% of children have experienced AOM.
• Although otitis media commonly occurs in children, it is a public health concern due to the seriousness of the complications that can result. This is due to the proximity of the middle ear to the mastoid area, and to the middle and posterior cranial fossa.

Otitis Externa

• Incidence of otitis externa is 400 out of 100,000 people in the USA.
• There is a higher incidence during the summer.
• No sex predilection.
• Frequently seen in people who are associated with aquatic activities.
• No association with age but a slight increase in prevalence is noted in patients aged more than 65 yrs was postulated to occur secondary to an increase in comorbidities, as well as an increase in the use of hearing aids, which may cause trauma to the external auditory canal.

Cholesteatoma

• Incidence is unknown.

Mastoiditis

• Incidence is 4 per 100,000 people in the USA.
• Common in children.
• Median age is 12-24 months.