ENT diseases presenting to a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency of different ENT diseases presenting at outpatient department and to educate people about different ENT diseases, their early treatment and prevention. Methodology: An observational cross sectional study was performed in Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad between 15 May 2016 and 10 Aug 2016. A non-probability convenient sampling technique was used to collect data from 250 participants from patients presenting at OPD. Data about patient particulars and different diseases was collected through a well-structured questionnaire. Data was secured and confidentiality was maintained. Data was analyzed using SPSS 21. Results: Out of all participants 250, 129(51.6%) were males and 121(48.4%) were females. Most of them 76(30.3%) had only primary education and a good number were also matriculate. Majority of the patient 165(66%) were socio-economically poor. Ear problems were most commonly encountered. Among ear problems, bilateral ear wax was the most common 38(15.2%) followed by acute otitis media 33(13.2%) and chronic suppurative otitis media 27(10.8%).Throat problems were 2nd in number to the ear problems. Most commonly presented throat problems were of tonsillitis including both acute and chronic conditions accounting for 39(15.6%) cases. Nose problems comes behind the ear and throat diseases and most common problems were of allergic rhinitis 33(13.2%) and DNS 20(8%). Cases of sinusitis and epistaxis had a very low frequency. Most of these patients were suffering from these problems for the last one year. Most of them had taken medical treatment from the Govt. Hospitals. Conclusion: Among ENT diseases, ear diseases are most common followed next by nose and then throat diseases. Most of these diseases are of acute onset with less than a year of disease duration. They exist mainly in low socio-economic class and most of the patient avail the medical treatment.