Spectrum of ear, nose and throat disorders among children reporting to the out-patient department of a tertiary care center, Nepal

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Ear, nose and throat (ENT) problems are more common in children than adults. The objective of this study was to know the occurrence of various ENT disorders among children reporting to the out-patient department of a tertiary care center and to see their associations with three age-groups.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Out-Patient Department of Ear, Nose and Throat from 2016 to 2017. All the patients of age group 0-16yrs were included in the study. Informed consent or ascent from the patients and permission from their parents were taken. Detailed history taking, clinical examinations and appropriate investigations were performed and recorded in a pre-formed proforma. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel format 2013 and statistical analysis was done with SPSS 20 version. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 968 patients were examined, males 633(65.4%) and females 335(34.6%). The spectrum of ENT disorders reported were chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) 126 (13.0%), Otitis media with effusion (OME) 113 (11.7%), acute otitis media (AOM) 98 (10.1%), otomycosis with otitis externa 59 (6.1%), wax 36 (3.7%), foreign body ear (FB ear) 11 (1.1%), acute mastoiditis 22 (2.3%), acute rhinitis 35(3.6%), chronic sinusitis 33(3.4%), deviated nasal septum (DNS) 34 (3.5%), FB nose 21 (2.2%), vestibulitis with epistaxis 20 (2.1%), injury/trauma 11 (1.1%), tonsillitis 89 (9.2%), adenoid hypertrophy 71 (7.3%), acute pharyngitis 52 (5.4%), chronic pharyngitis 46 (4.7%), cervical lymphadenitis 37 (3.8%), FB esophagus 8 (0.8%) and laryngitis 12 (1.2%). CSOM was significantly associated with the age-groups 5-9 yrs whereas, AOM with 0-4 yrs. Adenoid hypertrophy was significantly associated with 0-4 yrs whereas, pharyngitis with 10-16 yrs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Most common ENT disorders reported were ear disorders and second most common throat disorders. Significant associations were found between disorders and age-groups.</p>