gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: High prevalence of middle ear disease has been described in American natives, especially Chronic Otitis Media (COM). In Chile the prevalence for COM in general population is 0.3% to 2.12%.

Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence of middle ear pathology and the risk factors in South Chilean schoolchild natives belonging to Mapuche ethnic, as well as the impact of socio-economic and demographic changes after 14 years.

Material and Methods: Two otologic evaluations with an interval of 14 years were performed in schoolchilds from Alto Biobío with a percentage of indigenous greater than 85%. Socio-economic and demographic data were collected from national official statistical studies.

Results: A total of 1067 schoolchilds (2134 ears) were examined, 530 students the first assessment and 537 at the second, with an average age of 9.54 years. 49, 1% of the population lives in poor conditions and 30.6% belongs to the poorest social class. For all evaluated ears we found an overall prevalence of 0.09% for tympanic membrane perforation, 2.8% for pars tensa retraction pockets, 0.75% for pars flaccida retraction pockets and 5.52% of otitis media with effusion (OME). 14.05% of the schoolchilds were symptomatic (32% Hearing loss, 64% Otalgia and 4% Otorrhoea). After 14 years socio-economic and demographic conditions significantly changed, but only OME showed a stastitical significant difference (p<0.05).

Discussion: Despite of the presence of several risk factors for middle ear disease, the study population showed a lower prevalence of COM than the described in general Chilean population. The ethnic-racial factor seems to be a protective factor

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