Otorhinolaryngological manifestations of pregnancy in a Nigerian tertiary health center

Abstract

The objective of our study is to assess the frequency and distribution of ENT symptoms according to trimesters of pregnancy and the effect of these symptoms on the quality of life of pregnant women.

This was an observational prospective case control study performed in the department of Otorhinolaryngology, Family Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a specialist health institution in Nigeria. A total of 220 women were recruited from the ENT, Family Medicine and Antenatal Clinic for the study, consisting of 110 subject and another 110 age matched  controls following ethical approval. Assessment of ENT complaint and Examinations were carried out using a structured proforma for both subject and controls and compared the values and results presented in tables and figures

Age range for the subject was 17 - 43 years with a mean age of 28.4±5.4 years and age range for the controls is 19 – 43 years with a mean age of 28.1 ±5.3 years. Thirty seven of the subject were in the first trimester another 37 in the second trimester and 36 in the third trimester. The commonest aural manifestations were otalgia and ear fullness, the commonest nasal manifestations were snoring, epistaxis and facial hyperpigmentation while the commonest throat symptoms were Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, sore-throat and dysphagia.

We conclude that snoring and epistaxis were the most common symptoms in the third trimester, followed by gastro-oesophageal reflux disease which was also found to be predominant in the first and second trimester. All the symptoms were found to increase with advancement in age of pregnancy except for hearing loss, hoarseness and facial weakness which are not statistically significant in our study.

Keywords: Pregnancy; Trimester; Otorhinolaryngology; Manifestation; Snoring