New Vaccine Prevents Middle Ear Infection in Children

[Angel]

Acute otitis media (middle ear infection) is one of the most commonly diagnosed childhood infections. The leading causes of infection are the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. The infections can be very painful and - very rarely - cause long term damage.

The vaccine was effective against two bacteria - the streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenzae, the Lancet reported.

But a UK ear expert said there concerns about vaccinating children against what was generally a mild infection.

Reduction
The vaccine tested contained proteins derived from both streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenzae.

Antony Tucker, Ear, nose and throat surgeon at Bradford Royal Infirmary, more than 4,000 infants were either given this vaccine, or a hepatitis A vaccine, at various ages between three and 15 months.

When the researchers followed them up at the age of two, 333 of the children given the new vaccine had a middle ear infection, compared with 499 in the control group.

The vaccine was shown to be effective against both disease-causing bacteria.

Dr Roman Prymula, from the University of Defence at Hradec Kralove, who led the study, said: "We found a reduction in ear, nose and throat specialist-confirmed episodes of acute otitis media by about a third in infants in the vaccine group compared with controls."

The researchers say the findings are important because both bacterium are significant causes of lower respiratory tract infections.

But Antony Tucker, an ear, nose and throat surgeon at Bradford Royal Infirmary, told the BBC News website: "The suggestion here is giving a vaccination against something that isn't a life-threatening condition."

He said there were also questions about the cost of immunising all children against a short-term, usually mild infection. Mr Tucker added: "In addition, only a proportion of ear infections are caused by bacteria, and only some of those by these bacteria."

Overall, the vaccine reduced the number of middle ear infections by about a third. This is a significant amount, especially considering the condition accounts for nearly 20 million pediatrician visits every year in the United States.

[RAAZ]

AOM is one of the commonest diseases in children in Nepal and further carelessness and lack of knowledge leads to CSOM which is a complicated form causing perforation in the tympanic memebrane and in many cases more complicated forms.
Vaccine to AOM can prevent these complicated forms!