Suppurative otitis media in Angola: clinical and demographic features

To describe the demographics and clinical findings in patients with otorrhoea in Angola.

A total of 411 patients with otorrhoea presenting in the ear, nose and throat clinic in Luanda and healthcare centres in other Angolan provinces underwent interview and clinical examination. We describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of the patients.

The majority (64%) of patients were children <15 years (age ranged from 1 month to 77 years; median age 10.9 years) while 31% were children <5 years. In 83% of the patients, otorrhoea had lasted >14 days at the time of the examination indicating chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), which was confirmed with otoscopy in 72% of patients. Acute otitis media occurred in 16% of patients and was more common in children than in adults (22% vs. 10%; P = 0.007). Median duration of otorrhoea was >12 months. Earache (67%), fever (20%), dizziness (17%), nausea and/or vomiting (6%) were the main symptoms. Adult patients reported noticing hearing impairment (HI) more often than the parents of child patients (72% vs. 50%; P < 0.0001). Reported HI correlated with otorrhoea duration (P < 0.0001), presence of earache, dizziness, and measles or meningitis in history. The level of education in the family did not correlate with symptom duration.

Otorrhoea is mainly due to CSOM and affects patients long-term in Angola. Otorrhoea duration is the strongest predictor of HI. Education on OM and its treatment is needed to prevent HI.