TY - JOUR AU - Khan, Muhammad Ahmed AU - Akram, Sumera AU - Usman, Hassan Bin AU - Khushdil, Arshad PY - 2016/07/18 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - ASSESSMENT OF EPIDEMIOIOGICAL PROFILE OF VARIOUS ENT DISEASES IN SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN AND THE TRENDS OF SEEKING HEALTHCARE IN SHANGLA VALLEY JF - Journal of Postgraduate Medical Institute JA - J Postgrad Med Inst VL - 30 IS - 3 SE - Original Article DO - UR - https://www.jpmi.org.pk/index.php/jpmi/article/view/1925 SP - AB - Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological profile of various ENT diseases<br />in school going children and trends of seeking healthcare i.e consulting ENT<br />specialist, general physicians and quacks in Shangla valley.<br />Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study was<br />carried out in district Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in May-July 2014. The<br />author visited eight schools in the district Shangla and carried out thorough<br />ENT examination of the students and took relevant history to find out the<br />prevalence of various oto-rhino-laryngological diseases in the school going<br />children. Students of the eight schools of Shangla valley with age between 5<br />to 16 years were included in the study. The students, who were found to be<br />suffering from ENT diseases, were also asked whether they have consulted<br />any physician, oto-rhino-laryngologist (ENT specialist) or any quack for the<br />subject purpose. Simple descriptive statistics were used to describe frequencies<br />and percentages.<br />Results: Total 2882 students were examined in the eight schools. Ear wax was<br />found in 769 (26.7%) cases. 11 (1.4%) of ear wax cases had consulted an ENT<br />specialist, 37(4.8%) had consulted general physician and 71 (9.2%) went to<br />see quacks. Second common ENT condition encountered was rhinosinusitis,<br />which was seen in 11.6% of school children. 4 (1.2%) of rhinosinusitis patients<br />had consulted ENT specialist, 35(10.4%) had seen general physicians<br />and 69(20.5%) had gone to quacks for treatment.<br />Conclusion: Oto-rhino-laryngological (ENT) diseases are considerable burden<br />and important health problem in school going children of Shangla Valley.<br />Currently trend of consulting quacks is highest, followed by physicians and<br />ENT specialists. ER -