Abstract:
Secretory otitis media is more common in preschool children, and it is latent and repetitive. If it is not cured after a long time of treatment, it may result in reduced hearing ability, and even leads to disorders in speech development, cognition and balance function. The key to the treatment of the disease is to identify it early and to perform early diagnosis and treatment. This article deals with its characteristics through reviewing the epidemiology data in China and abroad and socio-economic burdens; meanwhile, based on the general information of the elementary hospitals in China, the effective methods of early screening for secretory otitis media in children are studied.

Key words: Secretory otitis media, Epidemiology, Chinese primary hospitals, Socio-economic burdens, Child