CHARACTERISTICS | AGE | ||
---|---|---|---|
6 TO 36 MO,* N (%) (N = 43) | 3 TO 4 Y,* N (%) (N = 93) | ALL AGES,†N (%) (N = 161) | |
Duration, d | |||
• ≤ 3 | 14 (33) | 30 (32) | 52 (32) |
• 4 to 6 | 13 (30) | 32 (34) | 55 (34) |
• ≥ 7 | 15 (35) | 29 (31) | 51 (32) |
• Unknown | 1 (2) | 2 (2) | 3 (2) |
Symptoms reported | |||
• Ear pain | 32 (74)‡ | 82 (88)‡ | 139 (86) |
• Fever | 34 (79) | 76 (82) | 130 (81) |
• Otorrhoea or ruptured tympanic membrane | 4 (9)‡ | 28 (30)‡ | 38 (24) |
• Vertigo | 5 (12) | 13 (14) | 23 (14) |
• Hearing loss | 2 (5)‡ | 23 (25)‡ | 31 (19) |
Health services use | |||
• Call to help line§ | 7 (16) | 8 (9) | 18 (11) |
• Visit to physician | 43 (100)‡ | 83 (89)‡ | 151 (94) |
• Private clinic or community health centre | 32 (74) | 68 (73) | 122 (76) |
• Emergency room | 11 (26) | 15 (16) | 29 (18) |
No. of medications taken | |||
• 1 | 12 (28)‡ | 10 (11)‡ | 26 (16) |
• 2 | 25 (58)‡ | 57 (61)‡ | 97 (60) |
• ≥ 3 | 6 (14)‡ | 26 (28)‡ | 38 (24) |
Type of medications taken | |||
• Antibiotics | 41 (95) | 84 (90) | 149 (93) |
• Antipyretics or analgesics | 31 (72) | 79 (85) | 129 (80) |
• Ear drops | 5 (12)‡ | 26 (28)‡ | 37 (23) |
• Natural products | 3 (7) | 9 (10) | 14 (9) |
↵* Responses were compared between the 2 age groups using χ2 or Fisher exact tests.
↵† Included in this group are 25 children aged 6 months to 5 years with their exact ages unknown (not included in previous 2 groups).
↵‡ Differences between the 2 age groups are statistically significant (P ≤ .05).
↵§ Some caregivers who used help lines also sought care from physicians.