Childhood Ear Infections

Acute otitis media, and infection of the middle ear, is a common childhood illness. There are various ways to treat the problem. To help determine the best way, researchers conducted an experiment. 180 children between 10 months and 2 years with recurrent acute otitis media were divided into three equal groups.

1.Group 1 was treated by surgically removing the adenoids (adenoidectomy).

2.Group 2 was treated with the drug Sulfafurazole.

3.Group 3 with a placebo.

Each child was tracked for 2 years during which time all symptoms and episodes of acute otitis media were recorded.

The data were recorded in the following way:

Comumn1: ID number

Column 2: Group number

Column 3: Number of episodes of the illness

Column 4: Number of visits to a physician because of any infection

Column 5: Number of prescriptions

Column 6: Number of days with symptoms of respiratory infection

Using the data provided, answer the following questions:

1.Are there differences between the three groups with respect to the number of episodes, number of physician visits, number of prescriptions, and number of days with symptoms of respiratory infection?

2.Assume that you are working for the company that makes the drug Sulfafurazole. What should be reported to the company's executives explaining results.

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