Aetiology; management and complications of epistaxis in Ghana

ABSTRACT

In this communication we present the aetiological pattern of epistaxis in 298 patients seen at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH); Kumasi; Ghana. All cases of epistaxis in patients of all ages in a 9 year period between January 1979 and December 1987 at the ENT unit are reviewed. Pregnant women with more than one episode of epistaxis seen at the antenatal clinic at University Hospital; Kumasi; were also included in this study. There were a total of 298 patients; out of which 51 needed admission. The mean length of stay in hospital was 7 days. The aetiology of epistaxis remains largely idiopathic with 65 per cent originating from Little's area. The role of sickle cell disease/trait in epistaxis in the tropics is emphasised