Assessment of common otolaryngological diseases among children in rural primary schools in south eastern Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
Despite a global improvement in health care delivery, rural areas in developing countries still have poor access to specialist care. This study aims to assess the occurrences of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders among rural primary school children in south-eastern Nigeria.


METHODS
Two rural primary schools were selected randomly from one of the rural regions of South Eastern State of Nigeria. All the pupils of the schools who gave consent were recruited. A structured study proforma investigating the pupils' biodata, otolaryngological symptoms, ear, nose and throat examination findings, was used to evaluate each pupil in the presence of the teachers.


RESULTS
A total of 246 children participated in the study. 145(58.9%) were males while 101(41.1%) were females with a mean age of 8.5 ± 2.4 years. The commonest symptoms reported were nasal discharge (20%) followed by nasal obstruction (11.1%), itching of the ears (11.1%) and sneezing bouts (10%), while 3.7% had subjective hearing impairment. The commonest ENT finding was cerumen auris (43%) and this was observed in 43.4% of males and 42.4% of females, 11% had abnormal tympanic membranes and 20% had grades 3/4 tonsils(Brodsky grading).


CONCLUSIONS
ENT disorders are still common in children in the rural areas of developing countries. To avoid the morbidity associated with these preventable and easily manageable disorders, community health workers should be trained to manage common ENT disorders and mobile clinics with scheduled visits made available in areas where ENT services remain inaccessible.
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria. Electronic address: onyinye.ukaegbe@unn.edu.ng.
Onyinyechi C
OC
Ukaegbe
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
Nnaemeka G
NG
Umedum
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria.
Ethel N
EN
Chime
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
Foster T
FT
Orji
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
ENT diseases; Ear wax; Hearing impairment; Rural arears; School children