A comparative evaluation of ear diseases in children of higher versus lower socioeconomic status.

This study was conducted with an aim to assess the prevalence and profile of ear diseases in children from the higher and lower socioeconomic strata of society. Two groups of schools within Delhi were selected. Group A comprised of government schools located in slum areas with an average parental income of INR (Indian National Rupees) 1050 per month and group B of elite private schools with an average family income of TNR 35,000 per month. Three thousand children between the ages of 5-12 years were screened with the help of a written proforma and ear examination. Tympanometry and audiometry were done, where required. 19.6 per cent of children of group A were found to be suffering from ear diseases compared to 2.13 per cent of group B children. The two groups were also compared for number of family members, status of hygiene and parental education.

Prevalence of ear diseases in the children of Delhi.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and profile of ear diseases in children from Delhi, India. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional door-to-door survey was carried out in two districts of Delhi, and involved children of all demographic sections of the region. A total of 4626 children aged between 18 days and 15 years underwent examinations including otoscopy, impedance audiometry and hearing screening. RESULTS: In all, 14.8 per cent of the study sample was diagnosed with one or more ear morbidities, the most common being cerumen impaction (7.5 per cent) and chronic suppurative otitis media (3.6 per cent). There was clinical evidence of otitis media with effusion in 2 per cent of children, and 0.96 per cent had otitis externa (bacterial and fungal). The point prevalence of acute suppurative otitis media was 0.39 per cent. In all, 0.45 per cent of children were found to have an undiagnosed foreign body within the ear canal. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of ear disease poses a significant public health problem in Delhi.

Role of mastoid obliteration in patients with persistent cavity problems following modified radical mastoidectomy.

A randomized clinical trial was conducted to determine the efficacy of mastoid obliteration in controlling persistent ear discharge, wax accumulation, fungal infection and granulation tissue formation in patients with cavity problems following modified radical mastoidectomy (MRM). Thirty patients underwent revision mastoidectomy with mastoid obliteration using a temporoparietal fascial flap. They were then followed up over a one-year period and the stated parameters observed. They were compared with 30 patients with similar complaints who were treated conservatively and kept under observation for 12 months. On follow-up, the number of patients in both the groups suffering from various cavity problems was compared. The chi-squared test was applied to the results and it was determined that there was a significantly lower incidence of discharging ear and formation of granulations in the operative group. However, audiological status, development of otomycosis and wax accumulation did not reveal any significant variation between the two groups.

Thymolipoma--a rare mediastinal tumour--report of two cases and review of literature.

Thymolipoma is a rare mediastinal tumour. We report two cases of thymolipoma. Our first case, a woman of 60 years, presented with an extremely rare association of myasthenia gravis with thymolipoma. Second case presented with dyspnoea productive cough in a male of 62 years. The relevant literature is briefly reviewed.

Malignant mesothelioma in the young (with prosthetic aortic valve an unusual association).

A case of malignant mesothelioma (MM) in a 15 year old boy is reported. He had a prosthetic aortic valve implanted in 1980 at our centre for rheumatic aortic regurgitation. Fever, weight loss and chest pain as initial symptoms suggested possibility of prosthetic valve endocarditis. Dysphagia as another initial symptom was interesting and caused further diagnostic dilemma. Role of Computerised Tomography (CT) scan in diagnosis of MM is highlighted.

Prevalence of preventable ear disorders in over 15,000 schoolchildren in northern India.

BACKGROUND: There is a considerable scarcity of reliable population-based data on the prevalence of preventable ear disorders in developing countries. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of preventable ear disorders in primary school children (aged 5 to 12 years) in northern India. METHOD: A pro forma questionnaire was used to screen 15 718 primary school children in New Delhi for ear disorders. Ear examinations were conducted using otoscopy and impedance audiometry. RESULTS: Impacted cerumen was prevalent in 7.93 per cent of schoolchildren, 4.79 per cent suffered from chronic otitis media and 3.06 per cent suffered from otitis media with effusion. Acute otitis media was detected in 0.65 per cent and foreign bodies were found in 0.34 per cent of the children. CONCLUSION: Preventable ear diseases posed a significant health problem among children at primary school level. Regular screening of children during this stage would ensure that their school lives were not affected by hearing impairments or preventable ear disorders. Information gathered in this study will help in effective treatment prioritisation of ear disorders, planning and resource allocation.