Association Between Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Acute Otitis Media in Pediatric Patients. A Cross-Sectional Study

• ARSLAN SHUJA

  Institute of Molecular biology and biotechnology (IMBB), CRIMM, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.

  Author

• MUHAMMAD NASIR SHAHBAZ

  Institute of Molecular biology and biotechnology (IMBB), CRIMM, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.

  Author

• JAN AHMED

  Institute of Molecular biology and biotechnology (IMBB), CRIMM, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.

  Author

Background:

Acute Otitis Media (AOM) may be considered as one of the most common infectious diseases in children that may take place after an episode of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI). The structural vicinity of the nasopharynx and middle ear in each respiratory infection contributes to the spread of pathogens, which causes inflammation and effusion. The objective of the study was to establish the relationship between URTI and AOM among pediatric patients aged 5 to 10 years and to ascertain major risk factors that contribute to the relationship between them.

Methodology:

The study was a cross-sectional one that took place in the Pediatric and ENT departments of a tertiary-care hospital during the period between January and December 2024. One hundred children between the age of 5 and 10 years were sampled using consecutive sampling. The structured questionnaire and clinical otoscopic examination were used to collect data. The AOM diagnosis was grounded on acute ear condition symptoms with either bulging of the tympanum membrane or otorrhea, whereas URTI diagnosis was based on cough, rhinorrhea, or sore throat in the last 14 days. The results were statistically analyzed with the help of SPSS v26, and chi-square test and logistic regression were applied to define the associations.

Results:

A total of 100 children were studied, 58 percent were males, and 42 percent were females with mean age of 7.3 years with standard deviation of 1.5. The general prevalence of AOM was 35. The prevalence of URTI in children was 60% with 50% of the children developing AOM, as opposed to 12.5% in children who did not develop URTI (p < 0.001). This was found using logistic regression analysis which identified recent URTI (aOR = 6.8, p = 0.001), recurrent URTIs (aOR = 3.2, p = 0.01), and exposure to passive smoke (aOR = 2.5, p = 0.04) as independent predictors of AOM. It was also more prevalent in winter season but statistically insignificant (p = 0.08).

Conclusion:

The research made a good correlation between the infection of the upper respiratory tract and acute otitis media among non-pediatric patients between the ages of 5 and 10 years. Avoiding tobacco smoke, full vaccination, and early treatment of URTIs are some of the preventive strategies that can greatly help mitigate the risk of AOM. Health education and early diagnosis of parents is important to reduce complications and recurrence.

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Copyright (c) 2025 Arslan Shuja, Muhammad Nasir Shahbaz, Jan Ahmed (Author)

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