Prevalence and clinical presentation of otitis media among febrile children in Iganga Hospital
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Date
2014
Authors
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Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Health Sciences
Abstract
Otitis media is a suppurative infection of the middle ear cavity due to bacterial pathogens like Streptococcus pneumonia, nontyable Haemophilus Influenzae and M. catarrhalis. There is a strong relationship between upper respiratory tract infections and otitis media, with the former predisposing children to the latter. This relationship is also reflected in the prevalence of the two conditions such that otitis media is the most common childhood disease after respiratory tract infections. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that was quantitative done in Iganga Hospital during the month of August 2014. The study focused on children between 6 months and 5 years who presented with fever to the outpatient department in the hospital. All the information collected was analyzed by Microsoft Excel and the data was represented in form of tables and a pie chart. The prevalence of otitis media was 18% and the age group mostly affected was between 6-12 months. The majority of the affected participants were females. Upper respiratory infections and perforated ear drum were the commonest clinical findings. Prompt treatment of any upper respiratory tract infection can greatly lead to a decline in the prevalence of otitis media. The prevalence which was found to be 18% was low compared to the global prevalence which was about 60% however this proportion can further be lowered if there is a routine screening of children’s ears especially those presenting with fever.
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry of in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery of Kampala International University
Keywords
Otitis media, Febrile children, Prevalence and clinical presentation of otitis media among febrile children, Iganga Hospital