A PREVALENCE STUDY OF ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA AMONG FEBRILE CHILDREN SIX MONTHS TO SIX YEARS OF AGE AT ECWA EVANGEL HOSPITAL, JOS

Abstract

This is a prevalence study of acute otitis media among febrile children six months to six years
of age at ECWA Evangel Hospital, Jos. The study was carried out between June and August,
2005. In all sixty children within the age range specified above were studied through history
and physical examination for acute otitis media and its associated factors. A subject was
assessed to have acute otitis media if he or she was found to have a bulging tympanic
membrane on pneumatic otoscopic examination of the tympanic membrane. Due consent was
obtained before carrying out the history taking and physical examination. Data was analysed
using Epi Info version 3.2 (CDC Atlanta 2000).

The prevalence of acute otitis media was found to be 18.3%. The probable associated factors
included large family size, formula feeding and lower educational status of parents. Acute
otitis media commonly manifested in form of sleeplessness at night, tugging at the ear or ear
pain, fever and restlessness. The commonest symptom found to be associated with those that
had acute otitis media was ear pain (17 of 60) out of which 9 had acute otitis media.

The signs most predictive of acute otitis media were bulging tympanic membrane in 11
subjects of the study population, (18.3% of 60) and tympanic membrane mobility
abnormality 13 subjects of the study population(21.7% of 60). Ten out of the thirteen subjects
had acute otitis media while all the 11 subjects that had bulging tympanic membrane had
acute otitis media.

In conclusion acute otitis media was a common disease condition among febrile children in
the study and hence every febrile child should be evaluated for AOM and not just treated for
malaria as is commonly practiced by many physicians.

A PREVALENCE STUDY OF ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA AMONG FEBRILE CHILDREN SIX MONTHS TO SIX YEARS OF AGE AT ECWA EVANGEL HOSPITAL, JOS