title: A case control study of the factors associated with occurrence of aerodigestive foreign bodies in children in a regional referral hospital in South Western Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aerodigestive foreign bodies (ADFB) in children are a common emergency in ENT clinics globally. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and common types of ADFB's presenting to a referral hospital in South Western Uganda, and to review clinical presentation and factors that influence their occurrence among children under 12 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a case control study comprising 40 cases and 80 unmatched controls. Consecutive and random sampling were used for the cases and controls respectively. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Clinic records were reviewed to calculate prevalence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence was 6.6 % of all paediatric cases seen in the ENT department that year. The most common symptoms included: history of choking [45 %], sudden cough [72.5 %], stridor [60 %] and failure to swallow [35 %]. The most common location for an airway foreign body was the right main bronchus [40 %] and the upper one third of the oesophagus [32.5 %] for digestive tract foreign bodies. Seeds and coins were most frequently removed. Children from upper level SES had a significantly lower risk of foreign body occurrence [OR = 0.29, p = 0.02] compared to those from a low SES. Also significantly, most cases were referrals from other government health centres [p = <0.01]. The male to female ratio among cases was 2:1. Children of older mothers were less likely to have an ADFB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of ADFB's is relatively high. The most common symptoms are a history of choking, cough and failure to swallow. Age under 5 years, male sex, younger maternal age and low socioeconomic status increased odds of ADFBs.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT Surgery, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nakku
authors.affiliation: ENT Department 5th Floor, New Mulago Hospital Complex, Makerere University College of Health Sciences School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Byaruhanga
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bajunirwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
authors.forename: Imelda T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Kyamwanga
keywords: Aerodigestive; Factors; Foreign bodies; Occurrence; Uganda