Glue ear at the highlands of Himalayas

ABSTRACT

Otitis media with effusion [OME] is common clinical entity in children. Adult onset glue ear is not uncommon in our country. This study was carried out while providing primary ear care and conducting epidemiological survey in the northern territories of Baltistan in the Himalayan range of mountain terrain. Total of 503 subjects, having the strong clinical evidence of glue ear were included in the study during 07 ENT camps in 1998. 295 [58.64%] were males and 208 [41.35%] were females between the age range of 05 to 85 years. 364 [72.36%] cases were bilateral and 139 [27.63%] were unilateral. Tympanometry was performed in 353 selected subjects. Type B tympanograms were found in 296 [83.85%]. Type C in 41[11.61%] and in 16 [4.53%] subjects, normal type A tympanograms were obtained. Increased number of glue ear were encountered with increasing height from sea level