Introduction: Acute Otitis Media (AOM) is the most commonly-occurring bacterial complication in childhood. After making certain
corrections to the patients’ dietary habits, we observed a significant reduction in recurrent colds and their bacterial complications. The purpose of
the study was to assess the effects of the Traditional Mediterranean Diet (TMD) on patients diagnosed with Recurring Acute Otitis Media (RAOM).
Methods: Prospective before-after comparison study with 48 girls and 42 boys aged 1-5 years were included on the programme “Learning to eat the
Mediterranean Way”, designed to encourage the adoption of the TMD. We studied clinical and therapeutic variables and various anthropometric
parameters.Results: All the symptomatic indicators studied (number and intensity of episodes of otitis and emergency admissions) showed a
positive and statistically significant evolution in RAOM. By the end of the study, none of the patients met the criteria for classification as RAOM,
and 60% percent of patients did not present any further episodes of AOM. In line with the above, the use of anti-microbial drugs and symptomatic
treatments reduced considerably; the use of antibiotics dropped from 4.30±1.45 occasions/patient/year, to 0.66±0.98 (p<0.001), and the used of
symptomatic treatments dropped from 7.63±2.65 to 2.75±1.90 (p<0.001). The level of family satisfaction was very high.Conclusions: The adoption
of the Traditional Mediterranean Diet may make a major contribution to the curing of patients diagnosed with RAOM.
Keywords : Acute otitis media, Recurring acute otitis media, Chronic suppurative otitis media, Mediterranean diet, Dietary intervention, Nutritional therapy
Author : Fernando M. Calatayud-Sáez
Title : Is Recurrent Acute Otitis Media (RAOM) a Consequence of Fundamental Changes to the Traditional Mediterranean Diet?
Volume/Issue : 1;1
Page No :
pen Access 
