title: Prevalence of preventable ear disorders in over 15,000 schoolchildren in northern India.
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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chadha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sayal
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D038781:Otoscopy; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires