TY - JOUR

T1 - Chronic suppurative otitis media in Zimbabwean school children

T2 - A cross-sectional study

AU - Pedersen, C. K.

AU - Zimani, P.

AU - Frendø, M.

AU - Spindler, N. J.

AU - Chidziva, C.

AU - Von Buchwald, C.

AU - Jensen, R. G.

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Chronic suppurative otitis media is a major cause of disabling childhood hearing loss, especially in low-income countries. Estimates on its prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa range from the lowest to the highest in the world (less than one per cent to more than five per cent). However, the prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media in Zimbabwe is largely unknown. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of paediatric chronic suppurative otitis media and other middle-ear pathology in rural Zimbabwe. Method A cross-sectional study was performed in primary school children aged 4-13 years from the rural province of Mashonaland East. Participants underwent video otoscopy and tympanometry. Results Out of 451 examined children, two (0.4 per cent) had chronic suppurative otitis media. Acute otitis media was present in one (0.2 per cent), otitis media with effusion was present in five (1.1 per cent) and scarring was present in 69 (15.3 per cent). Conclusion Chronic suppurative otitis media and otitis media sequelae were surprisingly uncommon in this sample of rural primary school children in Zimbabwe. More studies, preferably population-based, are needed to enable more precise estimates of chronic suppurative otitis media prevalence in Zimbabwe.

AB - Chronic suppurative otitis media is a major cause of disabling childhood hearing loss, especially in low-income countries. Estimates on its prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa range from the lowest to the highest in the world (less than one per cent to more than five per cent). However, the prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media in Zimbabwe is largely unknown. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of paediatric chronic suppurative otitis media and other middle-ear pathology in rural Zimbabwe. Method A cross-sectional study was performed in primary school children aged 4-13 years from the rural province of Mashonaland East. Participants underwent video otoscopy and tympanometry. Results Out of 451 examined children, two (0.4 per cent) had chronic suppurative otitis media. Acute otitis media was present in one (0.2 per cent), otitis media with effusion was present in five (1.1 per cent) and scarring was present in 69 (15.3 per cent). Conclusion Chronic suppurative otitis media and otitis media sequelae were surprisingly uncommon in this sample of rural primary school children in Zimbabwe. More studies, preferably population-based, are needed to enable more precise estimates of chronic suppurative otitis media prevalence in Zimbabwe.

KW - Developing Countries

KW - Epidemiology

KW - Otitis Media

KW - Otoscopy

U2 - 10.1017/S0022215120001814

DO - 10.1017/S0022215120001814

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33016257

AN - SCOPUS:85094218802

VL - 134

SP - 867

EP - 871

JO - The Journal of laryngology and otology. Supplement

JF - The Journal of laryngology and otology. Supplement

SN - 0144-2945

IS - 10

ER -