title: Clinico-epidemiological profile of chronic suppurative otitis media patients attending a tertiary care hospital.
abstract: The cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the clinico-epidemiological profile, perceptions and clinical profile of the chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) patients in a tertiary care hospital. A pretested questionnaire was used containing open questions and the patients were assessed clinically. Most patients (31.2%) were from 0-10 years age group and were males (58.8%). Majority of them (96%) lived in "kuccha" houses/slums, 76.8% practised unhygienic ear pricking, 36.8% poured oil in their ears, 70.8% bathed in ponds/rivers, 52.8% had ear discharge for more than 1 year. Among the respondents, 17.2% knew that CSOM was contagious, 24% thought CSOM ran in family, 20% knew CSOM is preventable. There was low threat perception and long time to seek care. Patients mostly presented with earache, deafness and discharge, most had deafness and safe variety of CSOM. More than half had comorbidities. Most of the previous study findings corroborated with the present study. Here was a substantial delay between the onset and treatment seeking due to lack of awareness and low threat perception. Pain and complications were the triggers for care-seeking. Education about the disease, strengthening the frontline workers and good referral system are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, IPGME&R, Kolkata 700020.
authors.forename: Rajarshi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neogi
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.forename: Kuntal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maity
authors.forename: Bijan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Basak
authors.forename: Deepjoy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Moloy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Arunava
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: Akhil Bandhu
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Biswas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011204:Poverty Areas; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult