Prevalence of otorhinolaryngologic diagnoses in the pediatric emergency room

Abstract

Summary Introduction: Fever and pain, which are very common in ear, nose, and throat pathologies, are among the most frequent complaints recorded during emergency room pediatric patient treatment. Most of time, the pediatricians are called on to evaluate otorhinolaryngology disorders that requires specialist assessment. Aim: To determine the prevalence of otorhinolaryngologic diagnoses in a pediatric population in a reference hospital in the city of Itatiba, São Paulo. Methods: We evaluated 2,054 pediatric patients (age range, 0–12 years, 11 months) in this descriptive, transversal observational (survey) study. Data collection was performed by a single observer during 103 night shifts (07:00 p.m. to 07:00 a.m.) between January and December 2011, and included documentation of the main diagnosis, and patient age and sex. The ethics committee and research institution approved study. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on diagnosis: Group A otorhinolaryngology disease and Group B included diagnoses not contained in Group A. Results: Of the total enrolled patients, 52.2% corresponded to Group A and 47.8% to Group B; 51.9% were male and 48.1% were female. The average age was 4.5 years (Group A, 3.93 years; Group B, 5.03 years). We compared the prevalence of the diagnostic hypotheses of the 2 groups. Conclusion: A large number of patients sought treatment at pediatric emergency rooms for otorhinolaryngologic diagnoses.

Pediatric Otolaryngological Emergency: An Experience from a Tertiary Care Teaching Institution at Kolkata, India

“…Kumar and Gulati in 1999 found this proportion to be 33.7% which was much closer to the age distribution pattern in general population than the present study [3]. Signorelli and Mendes in their study found more than half of the total children attended hospital emergency were diagnosed to have one or other diagnosis related to otolaryngology [4]. In the present study the data of total pediatric emergency attendance was not included so it couldn't be commented from this study whether the ENT emergency problems among the children were proportionately more or in general the emergency medical problems were more in pediatric age group.…”

Analysis of Ear, Nose, Throat and Head & Neck Surgery Consultations and Diagnostic Accuracy in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Western Nepal

“…Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) diseases accounts for 25-40% of all hospital patients and are serious public health problems because of their universal distribution, the morbidities which they cause due to inherent physiological function that take place in head and neck region. 1,2 Consultation is the act of seeking assistance from another physician(s) or health care professional(s) for diagnostic studies, therapeutic interventions, or other services that may benefit the patient. 3 Subspecialty consultations are a necessary part of comprehensive medical care and are important in facilitating the exchange of information, knowledge and expertise between doctors that aids in better patient management.…”