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Paediatric chronic suppurative otitis media in the Free State Province: Clinical and audiological features

Nicholaas J Tiedt, Iain R Butler, Ute M Hallbauer, Mark D Atkins, Eugenne Elliott, Madelein Pieters, Gina Joubert, Riaz Y Seedat

Abstract


Background. Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a chronic infection of the middle ear cleft. In sub-Saharan Africa >50% of cases occur in children <10 years of age.

Objectives. To describe the otological, audiological and bacteriological findings in children with CSOM.

Methods. We conducted a prospective study at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Clinic at Universitas Academic Hospital between August 2009 and December 2010. We included all children with CSOM over this period. Patients underwent ENT and paediatric examination, and were tested for HIV. Pus swabs were taken after an ear toilet for routine microbiology, fungal and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture. We performed audiological testing after the otorrhoea had resolved.

Results. Eighty-six children (113 ears) were included, with a median age of 4.6 years (range 1 - 12 years). The mean duration of otorrhoea was 161.7 weeks (range 4 - 572 weeks). Nine patients (10.5%) presented with coalescent mastoiditis and/or intracranial complications of CSOM. Of the 153 organisms identified; Gram-negative bacteria were present in 93 (82.3%) ears, with 94.8% of these being sensitive to quinolones. Only 1 case of tuberculous otitis media was identified. HIV infection was present in 54.6% of patients tested. There was a hearing loss in 44 (66.7%) of the tested affected ears.

Conclusions. There was a long delay between the onset of symptoms and accessing ENT services. Most cases of CSOM were due to quinolone-sensitive Gram-negative aerobes. There was a high prevalence of cholesteatoma, hearing loss and other complications in children in this study.


Authors' affiliations

Nicholaas J Tiedt, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Iain R Butler, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Ute M Hallbauer, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Mark D Atkins, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Eugenne Elliott, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Madelein Pieters, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Gina Joubert, Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Riaz Y Seedat, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

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Keywords

Microbiology; Audiology; ENT; paediatrics; Otorhinolaryngology

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2013;103(7):467-470. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.6636

Article History

Date submitted: 2012-12-16
Date published: 2013-05-16

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