Impact of Early-Onset Acute Otitis Media on Multiple Recurrences and Associated Health Care Use.

Objective: To quantify the critical age period of first episode of acute otitis media (AOM) and its consequences for AOM recurrences and AOM health care use.

Study Design: Children enrolled in the Wheezing-Illnesses-STudy-LEidsche-Rijn cohort with at least 1 episode of AOM documented in their primary care health record before 2 years of age were followed until 6 years of age. Data on episodes of AOM and associated primary care consultations, antibiotic prescriptions, and specialist referrals were retrieved.