Q&A: The rate of common colds and ear infections are declining

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This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity

What are the common names for upper respiratory infections and otitis media, and what does your new research reveal about them?

Dr. Hmwe Kyu: Upper respiratory infections, or URIs, are commonly known as the common cold, or simply a cold. URI symptoms may include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, and sometimes a fever.

Otitis media is commonly known as middle ear infection. People with otitis media may have symptoms such as ear pain, fever, and hearing difficulties. Globally, the incidence rates of URIs and otitis media have declined gradually over time. Despite this, the number of new episodes has increased due to population growth, with 12.8 billion new episodes of URIs and 390 million new episodes of otitis media in 2021, as estimated by our study.

What is new in this research, and why should we be concerned?

We assessed both the individual and the combined burden of URIs and otitis media across all age groups in 204 countries and territories. This included detailed analysis of specific age categories in young children, an area not comprehensively studied before. According to our results, in children younger than two years old experienced the highest incidence rates of both URIs and otitis media in 2021. Children aged 2 to 4 years and 5 to 9 years had the largest episodes in the same year. The results offer insights into specific age groups for targeted prevention interventions to reduce the broader societal and health system burdens imposed by URIs and otitis media.

What is the connection between upper respiratory infections and otitis media, and what is their health burden?

Acute otitis media often develops during or after a cold. The swelling caused by the cold can block the Eustachian tube, which is a small tube that connects the middle ear to the upper part of the throat, behind the nose.

This impairs fluid drainage, leading to a fluid build-up in the middle ear that becomes a breeding ground for pathogens. This issue is more common in children, whose Eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal, making them more susceptible to blockage and infections.

Regarding the combined burden of URIs and otitis media, they accounted for an estimated just under 7 million years lived with disability and a little over 8 million disability-adjusted life years in 2021, underscoring a substantial health loss.