Publication:

Prevalence and determinants of chronic suppurative otitis media in school going children in Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh)

Background Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is one of the most common ear diseases in the South East Asia having a prevalence of approximately 5.2% in the general population. The objective of the study was to find the prevalence of CSOM in school going children in urban field practice area of tertiary care hospital in Bareilly (UP).

Methods Cross-sectional study involving 495 schools going children in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh.

Results The prevalence of CSOM was found to be 6.46%, with tubotympanic type constituting majority 81.25% trailed by atticoantral type 18.75%. Most patients presented with moderate hearing impairment (43.75%) and mild hearing impairment (31.25%). With respect to socioeconomic groups, upper lower, groups had 40.63%, and lower group had 34.37% prevalence.

Conclusions Improvement of health care facilities and awareness among health-care providers would definitely be helpful in reducing the prevalence of ear diseases in the developing countries like India.