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Prevalence: outer and middle ear disorders in black and Indian preschool children from Durban
Insights
Middle ear disorders were screened in 728 Black and Indian preschoolers in Durban. Race significantly impacted screening outcomes, with prevalence rates of 13.0% in Black and 14.3% in Indian children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Middle ear disorders are common in young children.
- Early detection and intervention are crucial for preventing long-term complications.
- Prevalence data for specific ethnic groups in South Africa are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of middle ear disorders in Black and Indian children aged 4-5 years.
- To investigate the influence of race and sex on middle ear screening results.
- To identify factors affecting screening accuracy, such as cerumen impaction.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 728 children (315 Black, 413 Indian) from Durban preschools participated.
- Screening utilized the Middle Ear Screening Protocol (MESP), including visual inspection and tympanometry.
- Data were analyzed for significant relationships between race, sex, and screening outcomes.
Main Results:
- A significant relationship was found between race and MESP pass/fail rates (chi2 = 13.237, p < 0.0001).
- Middle ear screening failure rates were 13.0% for Black children and 14.3% for Indian children.
- Excessive cerumen impacted outer ear tests in 38.4% of Black and 49.9% of Indian children.
Conclusions:
- Race is a significant factor in middle ear screening outcomes among young children in Durban.
- While no sex differences were observed, high rates of cerumen require consideration in screening protocols.
- Findings highlight the need for targeted audiological surveillance in diverse pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of middle ear disorders in 4-5 year old Black and Indian children attending preschools in the Durban Central region. Thus, a sample of 728 subjects (mean age = 4, 6 years), 315 Black (135 male and 180 female) and 413 Indian (223 male and 190 female) subjects was screened using referral criteria based on a Middle Ear Screening Protocol (MESP). The results of this study indicated that there was a significant relationship (chi2 = 13,237, p < 0.0001) between race and the likelihood of subjects passing and failing the MESP. A prevalence of 13.0% failures on the middle ear screening tests (visual inspection of the eardrum and tympanometry) was found in the Black subjects and 14.3% failure in the Indian subjects. No statistically significant differences were found between sex (Black male, Black female and Indian male, Indian female) and the likelihood of subjects passing and failing on the middle ear screening tests. Due to excessive cerumen, a significant percentage of Black (38.4%) and Indian (49.9%) subjects failed on outer ear tests. These results are discussed with reference to the literature. The limitations, research and practical implications of the research are also discussed.