Principles of middle ear screening in preschool children

Abstract

Otitis media (OM), the most common disease in children, often has asymptomatic evolution to chronic forms, provokes complications. Hearing loss, the most important symptom of OM, in small children is not evident for parents. Ear pain, fever and other symptoms of acute infection are not characteristic for majority of OM cases. Therefore parents address to doctor on a late stage of disease when chronic changes of middle ear are already stabile. The negative evolution of middle ear problems can be predicted and prevented if the disease is diagnosed on time.