Prevalence of CSOM among rural school going children.

A prospective study was carried out from January 2001 to December 2002 to find the prevalence of CSOM among rural school going children. Altogether 225 students aged 4-13 years from five primary schools and junior high schools of Magura district were interviewed and examined. 28 (12.44%) children were found to have CSOM. Out of these 28 cases, 25 came from lower and 3 from middle income group families. No case of CSOM was found in higher income group family. In this study 73.33% mothers were not aware of CSOM. 60% mothers had no knowledge about treatment and sequelae of CSOM. Only (5.78%) people use cotton bud to clean ear while majority use unhygienic materials like matchstick, cloth with stick and chicken feathers. Treatment seeking pattern was observed in our study. 10.71% cases did not receive any treatment and remaining 89.29% received treatment of which 25% from MBBS doctor or Hospital and 7.14%, 35.71%, 10.71%, 10.71% received it from Kabiraj, Quack, Homeopathy doctor, and salesman of pharmacy respectively.

Prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media among the children living in two selected slums of Dhaka City.

Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) is one of the important health problems in our country. Serious complications may arise from it. As such the study was aimed to find out the prevalence of CSOM among the children of two-selected slum dwellers in Dhaka City. This was a descriptive type of cross-sectional study. A total of 203 samples were interviewed and examined. Altogether 7.39% of children were observed to have CSOM. Among CSOM cases, 60% had hearing impairment. Ear discharge and perforation were observed in 26.7% in right ear, 46.7% in left ear and 26.7% in both ears. Central perforation was present in 93% cases. Cholesteatoma was present in 6.7% cases. Among CSOM cases, 53.3% children were in 2-5 years age group, 80% were dependent, 53.3% cleaned ear by cotton buds, 93.3% lived in Kutcha house, 73.3% had a monthly income of TK. 1001-2000 and 46.7% belonged to families having 6 members. Out of 15 CSOM, 11 cases were seen among children of 141 illiterate mothers. Four cases of CSOM were found among children of 62 literate mothers. Among the 203 mothers, 65.52% were found aware, and 34.48% were not aware about the disease and sequel of CSOM. Here 39.9% mothers had knowledge and 60.01% had no knowledge about the treatment of CSOM. Among the CSOM cases 46.67% cases did not receive any treatment. In treatment receiving group, only 3(20%) children received it from MBBS doctor or Hospital.