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Clinical profile of acute otitis media among Nigerian children

C C Nwawolo1, O O Odusanya, B C Ezeanolue

  • 1ENT Unit, Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

West African Journal of Medicine
|April 2, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Early diagnosis of acute otitis media in Nigerian children is crucial. Key symptoms include ear pain and fever, with Staphylococcus aureus being a common cause, necessitating prompt treatment to prevent tympanic membrane perforations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common childhood infection.
  • Accurate diagnosis and timely treatment are essential to prevent complications such as tympanic membrane perforation.
  • Bacteriological data in Nigerian children with AOM are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical presentation and bacteriological profile of AOM in Nigerian children.
  • To identify common pathogens causing AOM in the study population.
  • To inform early diagnosis and management strategies for AOM.

Main Methods:

  • A one-year prospective, multicentre clinical study.
  • Recruitment of 81 Nigerian children with AOM symptoms of less than one week.
  • Clinical assessment of symptoms and signs, and bacteriological analysis of ear swabs.

Main Results:

  • Common symptoms included ear pain (92.6%) and fever (88.9%).
  • Key clinical signs were red tympanic membrane (89.9%) and loss of light reflex (84%).
  • Tympanic membrane perforation occurred in 18.5% of patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent pathogen (50%).

Conclusions:

  • A high index of suspicion is needed for early AOM diagnosis in children, especially when fever is the primary symptom.
  • Prompt diagnosis and treatment can reduce the incidence of tympanic membrane perforations.
  • Staphylococcus aureus is a significant pathogen in pediatric AOM in Nigeria.

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