Could recurrent otitis media predict primary antibody deficiencies in Egyptian children?

Abstract

Abstract Background: Recurrent ear infection is a significant warning sign of primary immunodeficiency diseases. Objective: To estimate the frequency of IgA deficiency among children presenting to the outpatient clinic with recurrent otitis media (ROM > 4 times/year) and identify other possible risk factors of ROM in our community. Materials and methods: Three hundred children (154 males and 146 females), who presented to the outpatient clinic of Children’s Hospital, Ain Shams University with ROM, were consecutively enrolled in the study over a 1-year period. According to the age of enrollment, children were classified into two groups: group A (1-6 years) and group B (>6-12 years). The demographic features of both groups were evaluated together with assessment of serum IgA level. Results: Of all patients studied, only two (0.7%) had a low serum IgA level for normal age-reference values. None of the patients had neutropenia or lymphopenia. Iron-deficiency anemia was diagnosed in 76 cases, with higher rates among the patients in group A than group B. All patients received several courses of various empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics, but with either an incomplete course (n = 192) or a poor response (n = 49). Conclusion: The current study showed a relatively low incidence of IgA deficiency among children with ROM and indicated other environmental risk factors that participated in the occurrence of OM in our community.