Pattern of Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases in Pediatric Patients attending a Naval Reference Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Ear nose and throat diseases are known to be common in children. Hearing, breathing, smelling, swallowing, and speech are commonly affected by these diseases. The pattern of these diseases in children is not well documented.
Objective: This study aimed to study the pattern of ear nose and throat diseases seen in pediatric patients attending the clinic at a reference military hospital in Lagos.
Methods: Medical records of patients aged between 0 and 14 years managed between August 2014 and December 2017 at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Lagos, were reviewed.
Results:1618 (47.1%) of the 3436 patients seen during the study period were children. Children of personnel were 591 (36.5%) while 1027 (63.5%) were civilian's children with a ratio of 1:1.7. There were 879 (54.3%) males and 739 (45.7%) females. 1065 (65.8%) of the patients aged were 0 to 5 years. Patients with ear diseases were 923 (57.0%), nose diseases were 152 (9.4%), throat diseases were 532 (32.9%) and head and neck diseases were 11 (0.7%).
Conclusion: Children constitute a large proportion of patients that attend ear nose and throat clinics. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy, otitis media, rhinitis, and foreign body insertion into the ear and nose are the common ear nose and throat diseases noted. Health planners in Lagos state and the local governments, in particular, should adequately provide ENT care in their hospitals.