Supplements with vitamin D may reduce the incidence of recurrent middle ear infections in children who have low levels of this compound in the blood, Italian studies have shown.
Researchers from the Universita degli Studi di Milano (in Milan, Italy) informed about them during the American Microbiological Society conference, which was held in Denver on September 10-13.
Otitis media caused by a viral or bacterial infection is one of the most common diseases in childhood, especially in toddlers up to the age of two. Acute inflammations usually occur in the fall-winter and winter-spring periods. They are manifested by severe earache, headache, fever, malaise, and may also include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and hearing impairment. Inflammation is most often caused by viruses such as influenza viruses, RS virus, adenoviruses and enteroviruses, and bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae (commonly known as pneumococcal disease belonging to streptococcus pneumoniae), Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis.
In the initial period of treatment, if there is no purulent inflammation, it is recommended to carefully observe the child and administer anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs. Only when symptoms of bacterial superinfection appear, an antibiotic is used.
In some children, acute otitis frequently recurs, which can lead to more serious complications, and if the condition becomes chronic, it can cause permanent damage to the ear structures and hearing loss. Therefore, specialists are looking for ways to prevent relapse.
Italian researchers conducted a study in a group of 116 children with an average age of 33-34 months who suffered from recurrent otitis media (at least three episodes in the last six months or at least four in the last year). Complications in the form of perforation of the tympanic membrane occurred in more than one third of the cases of the disease.
The measurements showed that the concentration of vitamin D in the toddlers’ blood was lower than the recommended standard, i.e. lower than 30 nanograms per milliliter (ng / ml). All children were vaccinated against influenza, and most also received the seven-valent pneumococcal vaccine. Most of them were also breastfed for at least the first three months of life, which improves immunity.
For four months, half of the toddlers were given 1000 IU (international units) or 25 micrograms orally each day, and the other half a placebo.
They found that over the next six months, the group receiving the vitamin supplement had significantly fewer children having an episode of otitis media than the placebo group – 10 and 29 toddlers, respectively. However, this mainly concerned children who had no complications in the form of perforation of the tympanic membrane before.
The concentration of vitamin D in the blood of small patients increased in the group receiving the supplement – to an average of 36 ng / ml, while in the control group it was less than 19 ng / ml.
“This means that in clinical practice, we can check the level of vitamin D in children with recurrent middle ear infections and if it is too low, consider supplementation” – comments the lead author of the study, Susanna Esposito. The specialist adds that vitamin D was well tolerated, and the number of side effects occurred in a similar percentage of children in both groups. (PAP)