Background: Otitis media (OM), a common ear infection, affects children. Most pediatric medical appointments are for otitis media. Otitis media (OM) is the major cause of permanent hearing loss. OM has three primary subtypes: acute, OM with effusion, and chronic suppurative OM (CSOM).
Material and Methods: This study is a meta-analysis on the link between air pollution and middle ear infections in Indian children. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses were followed throughout this investigation. This study was about otitis media, which is also called glue ear, middle ear infection, OM, AOM, OME, CSOM, or middle ear infection. It is important because it affects so many people. We were exposed to air pollution from both inside (from heating and cooking) and outside (from cars and trucks) sources (from factories or cars).
Results: 1246 references were taken out because there were fewer of them. After the first round of evaluation, 661 out of the 743 citations were found to be unnecessary. The full texts of 82 publications were looked at to see if they could be included. There was a total of eleven investigations: three in the US, two in Canada, and one in the both Netherland and Germany, the other studies were conducted in Italy, Czech Republic, South Korea, China and Spain.
Conclusion: This comprehensive review found that air pollution increases the risk of OM in babies and children. Exposure to higher amounts of NO2, PM, SO2, PAH, and wood smoke increases OM infections, however the extent is unclear. PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, and CO enhanced OM risk immediately and for 1-4 weeks.
