Prevalence of Ear Infections in First Year Children of Primary Schools in A Western Ugandan Community

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Ear infections are a significant health concern in children globally.
• In the UK, prevalence reaches 90% in children aged 0-6, peaking at age six, coinciding with primary school entry in Uganda.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of ear infections in primary one children in Mbarara district, Uganda.
• To identify the most common types of ear infections and their causative pathogens.
• To analyze antibiotic susceptibility patterns and compare infection rates in urban versus rural schools.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 600 primary one children from randomly selected urban and rural schools in Mbarara district.
• Data collection included medical history and otoscopic examinations.
• Microbiological analysis involved culturing ear swabs, Gram staining, biochemical tests, API identification, and antibiotic sensitivity testing using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.

Main Results:

• Overall prevalence of ear infections was 8.0% (48/600 children).
• Otitis externa was the most frequently diagnosed ear infection.
• Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant pathogen (75%), showing 100% sensitivity to gentamicin and 80% to ciprofloxacin. Serratia marcescens also demonstrated 100% sensitivity to ciprofloxacin.

Conclusions:

• Ear infections are prevalent in primary school children in Mbarara district, Uganda.
• Staphylococcus aureus is a common causative agent, with identified effective antibiotic treatments.
• Further research is needed to understand urban-rural disparities and implement targeted prevention strategies.