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Chronic suppurative otitis media in children of Luanda, Angola
Author(s) -
Taipale Anni,
Pelkonen Tuula,
Taipale Marko,
Bernardino Luis,
Peltola Heikki,
Pitkäranta Anne
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2011.02192.x
Subject(s) - medicine , chronic suppurative otitis media , otitis , pediatrics , surgery
Abstract Aim: Evaluation of clinical characteristics, bacteriology and hearing in paediatric patients with and without chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) in Luanda, Angola. Methods: Interview, clinical examination, ear‐discharge culture, open air pure‐tone audiometry and brainstem auditory‐evoked potentials of 23 outpatients with CSOM and 23 controls in a paediatric hospital. Results: Of the CSOM vs. control children, 35% vs. 26% had running water, 70% vs. 70% electricity, 64% vs. 0% HIV (p < 0.0001) and 36% vs. 0% tuberculosis in history (p = 0.002). Ten (43%) children had bilateral CSOM. The major ear‐discharge pathogens were Proteus spp. (44%) and Pseudomonas (22%). Hearing impairment of >25 dB was present in 52% of CSOM‐affected ears and bilateral hearing loss in 7 (30%) CSOM children vs. zero control child (p = 0.009). Only one hearing‐impaired child’s family had previously detected the handicap. Conclusion: CSOM occurred in children with high co‐morbidity. Persistent otorrhoea was usually caused by Proteus spp. or Pseudomonas , and often suggestive of either HIV or hearing impairment. In the developing countries, prompt diagnosis and treatment of CSOM would enhance the children’s linguistic and academic development.