Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T14:27:09.980Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Prevalence of preventable ear disorders in over 15 000 schoolchildren in northern India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2012

S K Chadha ,
A Sayal ,
V Malhotra  and
A K Agarwal
S K Chadha
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India
A Sayal*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India
V Malhotra
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India
A K Agarwal
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India
*
Address for correspondence: Dr A Sayal, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, MAM College and Associated LN Hospital, J-1 (2nd Floor), Green Park Extension, New Delhi 110016, India Fax: +91 112 6191663 E-mail: ankushsayal@yahoo.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

There is a considerable scarcity of reliable population-based data on the prevalence of preventable ear disorders in developing countries. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of preventable ear disorders in primary school children (aged 5 to 12 years) in northern India.

Method:

A pro forma questionnaire was used to screen 15 718 primary school children in New Delhi for ear disorders. Ear examinations were conducted using otoscopy and impedance audiometry.

Results:

Impacted cerumen was prevalent in 7.93 per cent of schoolchildren, 4.79 per cent suffered from chronic otitis media and 3.06 per cent suffered from otitis media with effusion. Acute otitis media was detected in 0.65 per cent and foreign bodies were found in 0.34 per cent of the children.

Conclusion:

Preventable ear diseases posed a significant health problem among children at primary school level. Regular screening of children during this stage would ensure that their school lives were not affected by hearing impairments or preventable ear disorders. Information gathered in this study will help in effective treatment prioritisation of ear disorders, planning and resource allocation.

Keywords

EpidemiologyOtitis MediaHearing LossPrevalenceChild
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 127 , Issue 1 , January 2013 , pp. 28 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 The World Health Report 1997 – conquering suffering, enriching humanity. World Health Forum 1997;18:248–60Google Scholar
2 Seely, DR, Gloyd, SS, Wright, AD, Norton, SJ. Hearing loss prevalence and risk factors among Sierra Leonean children. Arch Otolaryngol 1995;121:853–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3 Bluestone, CD. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of chronic suppurative otitis media: implications for prevention and treatment. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1998;42:207–23CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4 Kapur, YP. A study of hearing loss in school children in India. J Speech Hear Disord 1965;30:225–33Google Scholar
5 Jacob, A, Rupa, V, Job, A, Joseph, A. Hearing loss and otitis media in a rural primary school in South India. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1997;39:133–8Google Scholar
6 Rupa, V, Jacob, A, Joseph, A. Chronic suppurative otitis media: prevalence and practices among rural South Indian children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1999;48:217–21CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7 WHO. Ten question screening index for disabilities. In: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INDIAEXTN/Resources/chapter03.pdf [23 February 2012]Google Scholar
8 Zakzouk, SM, Hajjaj, MF. Epidemiology of chronic suppurative otitis media among Saudi children–a comparative study of two decades. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2002;62:215–18CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9 Kim, CS, Jung, HW, Yoo, KY. Prevalence and risk factors of chronic otitis media in Korea: results of a nation-wide survey. Acta Otolaryngol 1993;113:369–75Google Scholar
10 Browning, GG, Gatehouse, S. The prevalence of middle ear disease in the adult British population. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 1992;17:317–21CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11 Godinho, RN, Goncalves, TML, Nunes, FB, Becker, CG, Becker, HMG, Guimaraes, RES et al. Prevalence and impact of chronic otitis media in school age children in Brazil. First epidemiologic study concerning chronic otitis media in Latin America. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2001;61:223–32Google Scholar
12 Saim, A, Saim, L, Saim, S, Ruszymah, BH, Sani, A. Prevalence of otitis media with effusion amongst preschool children in Malaysia. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1997;41:21–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13 Rueda, JCG, Sanchez, MAG, Rodriguez, VP, Sanchez, CM, Guerrere, ML. A descriptive study of hearing in children [Spanish]. Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp 1994;45:173–6Google Scholar
14 Lyn, C, Jadusingh, WA, Ashman, H, Chen, D, Abramson, A, Soutar, I. Hearing screening in Jamaica: prevalence of otitis media with effusion. Laryngoscope 1998;108:288–90Google Scholar
15 McPherson, B, Holborow, A. A study of deafness in West Africa: the Gambian Hearing Health Project. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1985;10:115–35CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16 Muhaimed, H, Zakzouk, S, Bafaqeeh, S. Epidemiology of chronic suppurative otitis media in Saudi Arabia. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1993;26:101–8Google Scholar
17 Swart, SM, Lemmer, R, Parbhoo, JN, Prescott, CA. A survey of ear and hearing disorders amongst a representative sample of grade 1 schoolchildren in Swaziland. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1995;32:23–34 Google Scholar
18 Hatcher, J, Smith, A, Mackenzie, I, Thompson, S, Bal, I, Macharia, I et al. A prevalence study of ear problems in school children in Kiambu district, Kenya, May 1992. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1995;33:197–205 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19 Chadha, SK, Agarwal, AK, Gulati, A, Garg, A. A comparative evaluation of ear diseases in children of higher versus lower socioeconomic status. J Laryngol Otol 2006;120:16–19 Google Scholar
20 Holmquist, J, Fadala, SA, Qattan, Y. Prevalence of secretory otitis media among school children in Kuwait. J Laryngol Otol 1987;101:116–19CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21 Schilder, AGM, Zielhuis, GA, Van Den Broek, P. The ontological profile of a cohort of Dutch 7.5–8-year-olds. Clin Otolaryngol 1993;18:48–54 Google Scholar
22 Irander, K, Borres, MP, Bjorksten, B. Middle ear diseases in relation to atopy and nasal metachromatic cells in infancy. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1993;26:1–9 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23 Sayed, YE, Zakzouk, S. Point prevalence of type B tympanogram in Riyadh. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1995;31:53–61 Google Scholar
24 Apostolopoulos, K, Xenelis, J, Tzagaroulakis, A, Kandiloros, D, Yiotakis, J, Papafragou, K et al. The point prevalence of otitis media with effusion among school children in Greece. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1998;44:207–14Google Scholar
25 Zielhuis, GA, Rach, GH, Bosch, VD, Broek, VD. The prevalence of otitis media with effusion: a critical review of the literature. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 1990;15:283–8Google Scholar
26 National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India. In: http://www.mohfw.nic.in/nppcd [20 January 2011]Google Scholar