Clinical Profile of Epistaxis in Sokoto: A 12-Year Analysis

Abstract

Epistaxis is bleeding from the Nose and Paranasal sinuses and could be a life threatening emergency requiring urgent attention. The aim is to determine the aetiological factors and highlight treatment modalities in a tertiary hospital in Northwestern Nigeria. This was a 12-year retrospective study of all patients managed with epistaxis between January 2000 and December 2011in the otorhinolaryngology department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Ninetyfive patients were reviewed, out of which 61 [64%] were males and 34 [36%] were females. Age group 20-29 years had the highest prevalence [21.1%]. The commonest aetiology was hypertension in 24.2% of patients followed by idiopathic 21.1%, rhinosinusitis 20%, trauma 14.7%. Anterior nasal packing was the most common method of treatment [49.5%]. Epistaxis is a common Otorhinolaryngological condition. Hypertension was the commonest cause in this study, with most cases seen in patients' aged 20-29years.