Trends in medical visits and surgery for otitis media among children

Article Abstract:

Otitis media (middle ear infection) affects 70 percent of all children by the age of three. One of the most common infections of childhood, otitis media is frequently treated by myringotomy, surgical intervention which often includes the insertion of ventilatory tubes. This study was conducted to compare methods of treatment for this infection in children, including the frequency of surgical interventions and medical visits. A population-based study was performed over a two-year period; the subjects were children between the ages of three and seven years old who were living in the Montreal area. The results showed an increase in the incidence of otitis media in this population and also an increase in the frequency of surgical intervention to treat this condition. The number of cases of otitis media rose 10.7 percent among boys and increased by 12.7 percent among girls. A total of 969 surgical interventions was reported, and the absolute number of interventions increased among boys by 45 percent and among girls by 50 percent. More cases were reported during the months of January, February, and March, and the lowest incidence of cases occurred during July. The rates of surgery were especially high among children who were three years old. These trends are similar to those recently reported in the United States and Great Britain. The costs associated with otitis media have also risen proportionally over this time period. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Demographic aspects, Surgery, Otitis media with effusion, Otitis media, Acute otitis media

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Evaluation of an infant car seat program in a low-income community

Article Abstract:

It is well established that child-restraint devices (CRDs) used in automobiles significantly reduce the risk of injury to children in the event of automobile accident. It is also well known that hospital intervention programs to encourage the use of CRDs have been effective in middle class populations. A study was conducted to determine whether an infant car seat loan program in a low-income area would be successful. The loan of the infant car seat was accompanied by educational efforts that stressed the importance of using the CRDs. The rate of CRD use in this community was compared with CRD use in a demographically similar control community that was not a part of a program. Infant car seats were used 41 percent of the time by the program group, compared with 27 percent usage by the control community. Once the child outgrew the infant car seat, the difference between the two communities did not persist. This was attributed to increased use of CRDs by the control community. There was no evidence that indicated the program modified the long-term behavior of the parents. Efforts should be focused on providing better access to CRDs when the child outgrows the infant car seat, and CRD use should be encouraged for older infants. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Safety and security measures, Infants, Poor, Child safety seats

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Evaluation of the quality of an injury surveillance system

Article Abstract:

Data available from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP), a childhood injury surveillance system, may be of fairly high quality. Comparisons of actual versus reported injuries yielded discrepancies, such as missing entries. Hospital admissions, poisonings, and overnight care were most likely to be missed. Analysts conclude that the data sets collected by Canadian children's hospitals contain relatively few errors.

Canada, Analysis, Quality management, Information services, Pediatric emergencies, Registries (in medicine), Registries (Medicine), Hospital records

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