Analysis of Ear Nose Throat Consultations Requested From the Pediatric Emergency Service in a Tertiary Hospital
1From the Department of Pediatrics, University of Health Sciences Turkey, Konya City Health Application and Research Center.
Insights
Foreign bodies in the nose, ear, or throat are the leading cause of pediatric emergency visits. Parent education on foreign body risks can decrease emergency room visits and ear, nose, and throat consultations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Pediatric emergency departments frequently encounter patients requiring ear, nose, and throat (ENT) consultations.
- Understanding the reasons for these consultations is crucial for optimizing care and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the primary reasons for ENT consultations in a pediatric emergency setting.
- To analyze the demographic characteristics and diagnostic findings of these patients.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 351 patient files from a pediatric emergency outpatient clinic was conducted.
- Data collected included demographics, presenting complaints, diagnostic procedures, diagnoses, treatments, and hospitalizations.
Main Results:
- Foreign bodies (FB) were the most common diagnosis (nose: 34.2%, ear: 16.5%, throat: 4.6%).
- Other diagnoses included epistaxis (4.6%) and Bell's palsy (4.3%).
- FB prevalence varied by age group, with higher rates in younger children (0-11 years) for nasal and ear foreign bodies.
Conclusions:
- Foreign bodies represent the most frequent reason for pediatric emergency visits requiring ENT consultation, particularly in children aged 0-5 years.
- Enhanced parental awareness and education regarding foreign body risks are essential to reduce emergency admissions and ENT consultations.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to examine the reasons and the methods of approach to the patients for the ear nose and throat (ENT) consultations requested from the patients who applied to the pediatric emergency department.
Methods:
The files of 351 patients who applied to the pediatric emergency outpatient clinic and were asked for consultation from the ENT clinic were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic data, complaints on admission, diagnostic examinations, diagnoses, treatment methods, and hospitalizations were recorded.
Results:
Of the patients included in the study, 190 (54.1%) were female and 161 (45.9%) were male. The median age of the patients was 4.0 years (3.0-8.0 years). The most common diagnoses after ENT examination are; 120 patients (34.2%) had foreign body (FB) in the nose, 58 patients (16.5%) had FB in the ear, 16 patients (4.6%) had FB in the throat, 16 patients (4.6%) had epistaxis, and 15 patients (4.3%) had Bell's palsy. According to age group, it was determined that FB in the nose and ear was more common in the 0- to 5- and 6- to 11-year age group, and Bell's palsy, FB in the ear and epistaxis were more common in the 12- to 17-year age group. A normal examination was also an important finding in 83 of the patients (23.6%).
Conclusions:
Foreign bodies are the most common reason for admission to the emergency services in children, and it is frequently seen between 0 and 5 years of age. Informing and raising awareness of parents on this topic will reduce both unwanted complications and ENT consultations along with admission to pediatric emergency services.
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