[Acute otitis media in childhood. Clinical and microbiological study of 50 cases].

Fifty cases of acute otitis media effusion (AOME) in children less than 14 years of age are reported. The largest age group consisted of children less than 22 months of age (22 cases). Otolgia or irritability (80%) and fever (66%) were the most common symptoms. Tympanocentesis of the middle-ear effusion was performed in all of the cases. Haemophilus influenzae was recovered in 13 patients (26%), S. pneumoniae in 12 (24%), S. pyogenes in 4 (8%), P. aeruginosa in 2 (4%), anaerobic bacteria in 2 (4%) and mixed cultures in 4 children; 2 cases of H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae, 1 case of S. pneumoniae and E. coli, and 1 case of E. coli and P. aeruginosa. There were no cases of M. catarrhalis or S. aureus. We conclude that H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae are the most frequent pathogens (60% of all patients and 81% of the positive cultures).