title: Pattern of geriatric otolaryngological diseases in Port Harcourt.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is an emerging population of senior citizens with improving standard of living and health facilities. The aim of this to document the pattern of Geriatric Otorhinolaryngological diseases in Port Harcourt.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a ten-year retrospective review of patients aged 60 years and above seen between January 1994 and December 2003 at the ENT Surgery Department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine hundred and seventy two patients out of a total patient population of 20,600 were found to be 60 years and above. The geriatric population was thus 4.7% of our total patients. Otological disease predominated with 537 (55.2%), followed by Rhinological disease with 180 (18.5%) before Laryngological pathologies with 154 (16.4%). 65(6.7%) had unspecified diseases. CSOM was the commonest otological (25%) and Otorhinolaryngological (13.78%) problem, followed by Otomycosis Externa 94 (17.5%) and Cerumen Auris 82 (15.3%). Allergic Rhinitis was the commonest Rhinological pathology with 110 (58%) of Rhinological cases, while Chronic Pharyngitis topped the list of diseases of the throat with 62 (34.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report does not differ significantly from what is reported elsewhere. The only outstanding difference is the emergence of CSOM as the most common ear disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B C C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Okoye
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Onotai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006306:Health Surveys; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative; D010036:Otolaryngology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies