This study was designed to examine whether atopy is associated with acute otitis media (AOM). Material and methods: The study was performed with the help of a questionnaire handed out to the parents of 262 children, all residents of Brno, who attended our department for adenoidectomy. The questionnaire was designed to establish any history of atopy and / or AOM in each child, as well as any family history of atopy. The information was compared to the existing data in our database of medical records. The children with one or more AOM events were used as the study group and the children with no AOM infections as a control group. The incidence of atopy in each of these two groups was then statistically analysed. The history of atopy in the family was also compared in each of these two groups. Results: No significant difference was found in the incidence of atopy when children with AOM and children without AOM episodes were compared. Furthermore, no significant difference was found in the family history of atopy, when children with AOM and children without AOM episodes were compared. Conclusion: Our data have shown no connection between AOM episodes and atopy incidence in children or their families, thus atopy or family history of atopy do not seem to play any role in the incidence of AOM.

Department of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology University Hospital Brno

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