ASSESSMENT OF EPIDEMIOIOGICAL PROFILE OF VARIOUS ENT DISEASES IN SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN AND THE TRENDS OF SEEKING HEALTHCARE IN SHANGLA VALLEY

Main Article Content

Muhammad Ahmed Khan
Sumera Akram
Hassan Bin Usman
Arshad Khushdil

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological profile of various ENT diseases
in school going children and trends of seeking healthcare i.e consulting ENT
specialist, general physicians and quacks in Shangla valley.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study was
carried out in district Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in May-July 2014. The
author visited eight schools in the district Shangla and carried out thorough
ENT examination of the students and took relevant history to find out the
prevalence of various oto-rhino-laryngological diseases in the school going
children. Students of the eight schools of Shangla valley with age between 5
to 16 years were included in the study. The students, who were found to be
suffering from ENT diseases, were also asked whether they have consulted
any physician, oto-rhino-laryngologist (ENT specialist) or any quack for the
subject purpose. Simple descriptive statistics were used to describe frequencies
and percentages.
Results: Total 2882 students were examined in the eight schools. Ear wax was
found in 769 (26.7%) cases. 11 (1.4%) of ear wax cases had consulted an ENT
specialist, 37(4.8%) had consulted general physician and 71 (9.2%) went to
see quacks. Second common ENT condition encountered was rhinosinusitis,
which was seen in 11.6% of school children. 4 (1.2%) of rhinosinusitis patients
had consulted ENT specialist, 35(10.4%) had seen general physicians
and 69(20.5%) had gone to quacks for treatment.
Conclusion: Oto-rhino-laryngological (ENT) diseases are considerable burden
and important health problem in school going children of Shangla Valley.
Currently trend of consulting quacks is highest, followed by physicians and
ENT specialists.

Article Details

How to Cite
1.
Khan MA, Akram S, Usman HB, Khushdil A. ASSESSMENT OF EPIDEMIOIOGICAL PROFILE OF VARIOUS ENT DISEASES IN SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN AND THE TRENDS OF SEEKING HEALTHCARE IN SHANGLA VALLEY. J Postgrad Med Inst [Internet]. 2016 Jul. 18 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];30(3). Available from: https://www.jpmi.org.pk/index.php/jpmi/article/view/1925
Section
Original Article
Author Biography

Muhammad Ahmed Khan, cmh bwp

Maj Dr Muhammad Ahmed Khan

ENT Splt

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