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Measles, meningitis, and seizures are leading causes of childhood deafness in Nigeria. Improving healthcare, immunization, and access to specialist centers can prevent this disability.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Communicable diseases in children contribute to high rates of morbidity and mortality in developing countries.
- Poor medical facilities and malnutrition exacerbate the impact of childhood illnesses.
- A significant percentage of infants acquire disabilities, including profound deafness, due to these factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the primary causes of childhood deafness among children presenting with hearing loss at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital.
- To investigate the contributing factors to childhood deafness over a three-year period.
Main Methods:
- A three-year survey was conducted at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital.
- Data was collected on children diagnosed with deafness to determine the etiological factors.
Main Results:
- Measles, seizures, and meningitis were identified as the most frequent causes of childhood deafness.
- The study highlights the link between communicable diseases, malnutrition, and the incidence of profound deafness in infants.
Conclusions:
- Improving healthcare delivery systems, promoting breastfeeding, and ensuring compulsory immunization are crucial for preventing childhood deafness.
- Enhancing accessibility to specialist centers is recommended to reduce the high incidence of profound deafness in childhood.
- Interventions targeting communicable diseases and malnutrition are essential in Nigeria and other developing nations to mitigate childhood disabilities.
Abstract:
A 3 year survey at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital was conducted to determine causes of childhood deafness in children seen for that condition. Of the many factors causing this handicap, measles, seizures, and meningitis were identified most frequently. Due to poor medical facilities and widespread malnutrition, communicable diseases in children produce high rates of morbidity and mortality. As a result, a high percentage of infants acquire disabilities, including profound deafness. Improvement of the health care delivery system, breastfeeding, and compulsory immunization of all babies against infectious diseases, as well as making specialist centers accessible to all are suggested as the most efficacious ways to arrest the high incidence of profound deafness in childhood in Nigeria and other developing countries.