ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF SEVERITY OF OTITIS MEDIA ON CHILDREN’S QUALITY OF LIFE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Otitis media (OM) is one of the most common childhood illnesses worldwide, with severity strongly influencing health-related quality of life (QoL). This systematic review synthesizes evidence on how OM severity affects children’s QoL and caregiver well-being, and evaluates the effectiveness of interventions aimed at alleviating these burdens.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2002 and 2024 were identified from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies examined the impact of OM severity on children’s QoL and caregiver outcomes using validated tools. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing cross-sectional, cohort, randomized controlled trial, and prospective designs.

Results: Severe or recurrent OM was consistently associated with lower QoL scores in domains of hearing, communication, emotional well-being, and social participation. Children with recurrent acute OM or chronic suppurative OM reported significantly higher rates of psychological distress, speech delays, and behavioral problems. Caregivers of affected children experienced elevated stress and reduced QoL. Surgical interventions, including tympanoplasty and tympanostomy tube insertion, improved QoL outcomes, though residual psychosocial challenges often persisted. Disease-specific instruments such as OM-6, CES, and COMQ-12 were superior in capturing the multidimensional impact compared to generic QoL tools.

Conclusions: The severity of OM exerts a significant, multidimensional impact on children’s QoL and caregiver well-being. While surgical interventions provide measurable improvements, comprehensive, family-centered care is necessary to fully address the physical, emotional, and social burdens. Future research should prioritize longitudinal, cross-cultural studies to inform equitable interventions.