Successful assault on ear disease: intensive daily treatment by nurses and health workers.
A survey of 213 children between the ages of three and 13 years in a small western New South Wales town in February, 1978, revealed that 43% of 153 Aboriginal children and 7% of 60 white children were suffering from active ear disease. Sixteen per cent of Aboriginal children also had a significant hearing loss. A relationship was found between growth retardation and the presence of ear disease. Non-medical health-care personnel were given special training in the detection and treatment of ear disease, and an intensive treatment and community awareness programme was begun. Fifteen months later, only 28% of 138 Aboriginal children and 3% of 65 white children were suffering from active ear disease, and only 3% of Aboriginal children had a significant hearing loss. The futility of sporadic treatment of ear disease in children and the desirability of a coordinated programme of treatment and prevention are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D003150:Community Health Workers; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012572:School Health Services; D044465:White People; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples