New vaccine helps reduce ear infections

According to US researchers, a test vaccine can reduce middle ear inflammation. Otitis media is one of the most common infections in children diagnosed.

(Photo: TTO)

Of the 20 million children in the United States who must be treated for ear infections, most cases are mild, but complications can cause hearing loss.

Roman Prymula and researchers from the Defense University of the Czech Republic examined nearly 5,000 children in the country. Half of the children were given new vaccines when they were 3,4,5 and 12-15 months old. Other children who are vaccinated according to the usual pattern of a completely unrelated one are hepatitis A.

All children are followed until they are 24-27 months old. The vaccinated group had less common otitis media (333 cases of infection, compared with 499 cases where children were not vaccinated with the vaccine).

The study was sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of the vaccine.

Q.HONG