Recurrent otitis is characterized by recurrent inflammations of the middle ear and is defined as three or more acute episodes within six months or four or more per year. At the paediatric ENT Clinic in Brno, at the ENT Clinic in Hradec Králové and at the paediatric out-patient ENT department in Brno a prospective study of children with recurrent otitis was made whic h included in the course of three years a total of 103 patients, mean age 3.7 years. On average these children suffered during the past six months from 4.39 attacks of otitis. In all children a ventilation tube (VT) was inserted and in 62 % at the same time adenotomy was performed. The mean period for which the VT was inserted was 248 days. The final evaluation of the group revealed substantial reduction of the number of acute attacks of otitis and 80 % of the children were cured or improved. The authors discuss problems of other alternatives of treatment and complications.

        Key words: children, recurrent otitis, ventilation tube.