NASOPHARYNGEAL FLORA IN THE 1ST 3 YEARS OF LIFE IN NORMAL AND OTITIS-PRONE CHILDREN

Nasopharyngeal carriage of the three major middle ear pathogens (Streptococcus pneumoniae, nontypable Hemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis) was evaluated prospectively in a group of 110 children followed up for the first 3 years of life. The findings suggested that nasopharyngeal carriage of middle ear pathogens increases significantly during respiratory illness among the general population of young children; however, otitis-prone children demonstrated a tendency to carry nontypable H influenzae at an unusually high rate even during health. This propensity to carry nontypable H influenzae might explain why nontypable H influenzae is a major cause of recurrent or chronic otitis media.