Skip to main content
Skip to main content

AAP Gateway

Advanced Search »

User menu

  • Login
  • Current Policy
  • Topic/Program Collections
  • Submit Manuscript
  • Alerts
  • Subscribe
  • aap.org

Menu

  • AAP Grand Rounds
  • AAP News
  • Hospital Pediatrics
  • NeoReviews
  • Pediatrics
  • Pediatrics in Review
  • Current AAP Policy
  • Journal CME
  • AAP Career Center
  • Pediatric Collections
  • AAP Journals Catalog

Sections

    • Login
    • Current Policy
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Alerts
    • Subscribe
    • aap.org

    Sign up for Insight Alerts highlighting editor-chosen studies with the greatest impact on clinical care.

    New! Video Abstracts -- brief videos summarizing key findings of new articles

    Know what's next when you read AAP Journals, view the new 2018 Catalog.
    Trainees,
    enter the SOPT Essay Contest for a chance to be published in Pediatrics!

    Advertising Disclaimer »

    Tools and Links

    Pediatrics
    November 1995, VOLUME 96 / ISSUE 5
    From the American Academy of Pediatrics
    Article

    A Pacifier Increases the Risk of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media in Children in Day Care Centers

    Marjo Niemelä, Matti Uhari, Merja Möttönen
    • Article
    • Info & Metrics
    • Comments
    Loading
    Download PDF

    Abstract

    Objective. To follow up a previous retrospective analysis in which we found the use of a pacifier to be a risk factor for recurrent acute otitis media (AOM).

    Method. In the present prospective study, the occurrence of AOM and the use of a pacifier were recorded in 845 children attending day care centers during a 15-month period.

    Results. More than three attacks of AOM occurred in 29.5% of the children younger than 2 years using pacifiers and in 20.6% of those not doing so (relative risk, 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6, 4.1); in children 2 to 3 years of age, the figures were 30.6% and 13.2%, respectively (relative risk, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2, 7.3). Logistic modeling with adjustment for age and the duration of monitoring showed the occurrence of AOM to be associated with the time during which a pacifier was used. The use of a pacifier increased the annual incidence of AOM from 3.6 (95% CI, 2.5, 4.9) to 5.4 episodes (4.4, 6.6) in children younger than 2 years and from 1.9 (1.4, 2.5) to 2.7 (2.2, 3.3) in children 2 to 3 years of age. The population-attributable risk of AOM attacks due to the use of a pacifier was 176 attacks, ie, 459 to 635 attacks per year, in the youngest children and 69 attacks, ie, from 264 to 333 attacks per year, in those 2 to 3 years of age. It can be calculated that the use of a pacifier was responsible for 25% of the attacks in children younger than 3 years. Breastfeeding, parental smoking, thumb sucking, using a nursing bottle, and the social class of the family failed to show such strong associations with the occurrence of AOM.

    Conclusion. We conclude that the use of a pacifier is a significant risk factor for recurrent AOM and suggest that pacifiers should be used only during the first 10 months of life, when need for sucking is strongest, and AOM is uncommon.

    • Received October 17, 1994.
    • Accepted December 29, 1994.
    • Copyright © 1995 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
    Full Text (PDF)

    Log in using your username and password

    Forgot your user name or password?

    Log in through your institution

    You may be able to gain access using your login credentials for your institution. Contact your library if you do not have a username and password.

    Pay Per Article - You may access this article (from the computer you are currently using) for 2 days for US$25.00

    Regain Access - You can regain access to a recent Pay per Article purchase if your access period has not yet expired.

    Offer Reprints

    PreviousNext

     

    Advertising Disclaimer »

    PreviousNext
    Email

    Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Pediatrics.

    NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

    Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
    A Pacifier Increases the Risk of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media in Children in Day Care Centers
    (Your Name) has sent you a message from Pediatrics
    (Your Name) thought you would like to see the Pediatrics web site.

    Alerts
    Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
    Citation Tools
    A Pacifier Increases the Risk of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media in Children in Day Care Centers
    Marjo Niemelä, Matti Uhari, Merja Möttönen
    Pediatrics Nov 1995, 96 (5) 884-888;

    Citation Manager Formats

    • BibTeX
    • Bookends
    • EasyBib
    • EndNote (tagged)
    • EndNote 8 (xml)
    • Medlars
    • Mendeley
    • Papers
    • RefWorks Tagged
    • Ref Manager
    • RIS
    • Zotero
    Share
    A Pacifier Increases the Risk of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media in Children in Day Care Centers
    Marjo Niemelä, Matti Uhari, Merja Möttönen
    Pediatrics Nov 1995, 96 (5) 884-888;
    del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Technorati logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Connotea logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
    PDF
    Insight Alerts
    • Table of Contents
    • Current Policy
    • Early Release
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Editorial Board
    • Editorial Policies
    • Overview
    • Open Access
    • Pediatric Collections
    • Video Abstracts
    • Author Guidelines
    • Reviewer Guidelines
    • Submit My Manuscript

    Back to top

                

    Copyright (c) 2018 by American Academy of Pediatrics

    International Access »           

    Terms of Use
    Privacy Statement
    FAQ

    AAP Pediatrics