Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Otitis Media in Infancy and the Development of Asthma and Atopic Disease

  • OTITIS (DP SKONER, SECTION EDITOR)
  • Published:
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Otitis media is a frequent respiratory infection of early childhood and it is important to fully understand the long-term complications and sequelae. Literature examining otitis media in early childhood and subsequent development of atopic disease is sparse despite there being vast literature on the association between respiratory infections and atopic disease. Current data support the hypothesis that otitis media infections in early life, especially frequent or severe infections, influence the developing immune system, resulting in increased risk for asthma. Recent findings have also reported an association between otitis media and eczema. Atopic children and those with a family history of atopy appear to be at greater risk. Future work should investigate the specific mechanisms involved. It is possible that vaccines and preventive strategies aimed at reducing the burden of otitis media could also reduce the burden of childhood asthma and atopic disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Rovers MM. The burden of otitis media. Vaccine. 2008;26 Suppl 7:G2–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Vergison A, Dagan R, Arguedas A, et al. Otitis media and its consequences: beyond the earache. Lancet Infect Dis. 2010;10(3):195–203.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. •• Holt PG, Strickland DH, Sly PD. Virus infection and allergy in the development of asthma: what is the connection? Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012;12(2):151–7. Recent review article on viral infection and asthma. Includes discussion of possible biological mechanisms.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. • Wohlleben G, Muller J, Tatsch U, et al. Influenza A virus infection inhibits the efficient recruitment of Th2 cells into the airways and the development of airway eosinophilia. J Immunol. 2003;170(9):4601–11. Examination of influenza A and its role in asthma development.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Casey JR, Pichichero ME. Changes in frequency and pathogens causing acute otitis media in 1995–2003. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2004;23(9):824–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ruuskanen O, Arola M, Heikkinen T, Ziegler T. Viruses in acute otitis media: increasing evidence for clinical significance. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1991;10(6):425–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Sevin CM, Peebles Jr RS. Infections and asthma: new insights into old ideas. Clin Exp Allergy. 2010;40(8):1142–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Walton RP, Johnston SL. Role of respiratory viral infections in the development of atopic conditions. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;8(2):150–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Xepapadaki P, Papadopoulos NG. Viral infections and allergies. Immunobiology. 2007;212(6):453–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kieninger E, Fuchs O, Latzin P, et al. Rhinovirus infections in infancy and early childhood. Eur Respir J. 2012. doi:10.1183/09031936.00203511.

  11. •• MacIntyre EA, Chen CM, Herbarth O, et al. Early-life otitis media and incident atopic disease at school age in a birth cohort. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2010;29(12):e96–9. Birth cohort study examining otitis media and asthma, eczema and rhinitis.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. •• Eldeirawi K, McConnell R, Furner S, et al. Frequent ear infections in infancy and the risk of asthma in Mexican American children. J Asthma. 2010;47(4):473–7. Cross-sectional study on the association between otitis media and asthma.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. • Hurst DS. The role of allergy in otitis media with effusion. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2011;44(3):637–54. Review of the relationship between atopy and otitis media with effusion.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kırıs M, Muderris T, Kara T, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of otitis media with effusion in school children in Eastern Anatolia. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2012;76(7):1030–5. Epub 2012 Apr 23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Martines F, Martines E, Sciacca V, Bentivegna D. Otitis media with effusion with or without atopy: audiological findings on primary schoolchildren. Am J Otolaryngol. 2011;32(6):601–6. Epub 2010 Dec 4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Bjur KA, Lynch RL, Fenta YA, et al. Assessment of the association between atopic conditions and tympanostomy tube placement in children. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2012;33(3):289–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Holt PG, Rowe J, Kusel M, et al. Toward improved prediction of risk for atopy and asthma among preschoolers: a prospective cohort study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010;125(3):653–9. 659.e1–659.e7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. • Kusel MM, Kebadze T, Johnston SL, et al. Febrile respiratory illnesses in infancy and atopy are risk factors for persistent asthma and wheeze. Eur Respir J. 2012;39(4):876–82. Epub 2011 Sep 15. Research article on infections and asthma. Highlighting the importance of atopy and fever during infection.

  19. Nafstad P, Magnus P, Jaakkola JJ. Early respiratory infections and childhood asthma. Pediatrics. 2000;106:E38.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Eldeirawi K, Persky VW. History of ear infections and prevalence of asthma in a national sample of children aged 2 to 11 years: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988 to 1994. Chest. 2004;125:1685–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Nafstad P, Brunekreef B, Skrondal A, Nystad W. Early respiratory infections, asthma, and allergy: 10-year follow-up of the Oslo Birth Cohort. Pediatrics. 2005;116:e255–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Caffarelli C, Savini E, Giordano S, et al. Atopy in children with otitis media with effusion. Clin Exp Allergy. 1998;28(5):591–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Herbarth O, Bauer M, Fritz GJ, et al. Helicobacter pylori colonisation and eczema. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2007;61(7):638–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Schmitt J, Schmitt NM, Kirch W, Meurer M. Early exposure to antibiotics and infections and the incidence of atopic eczema: a population-based cohort study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2010;21(2 Pt 1):292–300. Epub 2009 Aug 27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Souter MA, Mills NA, Mahadevan M, et al. The prevalence of atopic symptoms in children with otitis media with effusion. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009;141(1):104–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Umapathy D, Alles R, Scadding GK. A community based questionnaire study on the association between symptoms suggestive of otitis media with effusion, rhinitis and asthma in primary school children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2007;71(5):705–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Murk W, Risnes KR, Bracken MB. Prenatal or early-life exposure to antibiotics and risk of childhood asthma: a systematic review. Pediatrics. 2011;127(6):1125–38. Epub 2011 May 23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Mai XM, Kull I, Wickman M, Bergström A. Antibiotic use in early life and development of allergic diseases: respiratory infection as the explanation. Clin Exp Allergy. 2010;40(8):1230–7. Epub 2010 Jun 9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Penders J, Kummeling I, Thijs C. Infant antibiotic use and wheeze and asthma risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Respir J. 2011;38(2):295–302. Epub 2011 Jan 13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Schnabel E, Heinrich J, LISA Study Group. Respiratory tract infections and not paracetamol medication during infancy are associated with asthma development in childhood. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010;126(5):1071–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Lazzaro T, Hogg G, Barnett P. Respiratory syncytial virus infection and recurrent wheeze/asthma in children under five years: an epidemiological survey. J Paediatr Child Health. 2007;43(1–2):29–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Hartert TV. Are persons with asthma at increased risk of pneumococcal infections, and can we prevent them? J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;122(4):724–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Disclosure

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Epidemiology I, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    Elaina A. MacIntyre & Joachim Heinrich

Authors
  1. Elaina A. MacIntyre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joachim Heinrich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joachim Heinrich.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

MacIntyre, E.A., Heinrich, J. Otitis Media in Infancy and the Development of Asthma and Atopic Disease. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 12, 547–550 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-012-0308-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-012-0308-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation