Publication:

Prevalence of self probing, clinical presentation and the causative organism among the patients presented with otitis externa in a tertiary care hospital

Background Otitis externa, an inflammatory condition commonly reported in almost all age groups. But the prevalence and etiology are varying on different region. This study was aimed to find out the prevalence of self probing, clinical presentation and the causative organism among the patients presented with otitis externa in a tertiary care hospital.

Methods All the patients presented with otitis externa in the outpatient department of ENT were included in the retrospective study. The history of self probing was identified using a questionnaire. The clinical presentation was noticed and organism was isolated from the swab taken from the external ear canal. The non-parametric data was expressed in numbers and percentage.

Results Total 49 patients were included in the study. The average age of patient was 39.5±14.3 years with 24 males and remaining females. Among them, 85.7% (42/49) had a history of self probing (p<0.05). The most prevalent age group for the self probing associated otitis externa was 31 to 40 years. The discharge was the major clinical presentation (40/49) and the common organism isolated was Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 38% of incidence.

Conclusions Self probing was major etiological factor for otitis externa in the age group of 31-40 years. Discharge was the major clinical presentation and the common organism isolated was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This emphasized the need for a proper awareness programme in the society against self probing to reduce the incidence.