Demographic influences on complicated chronic suppurative otitis media

Objective: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) can lead to dreadful and fatal complications. Objective of my study is an assessment of factors leading to the development of CSOM complications in different age groups and which age group is more prone to the development of complications. And to find out most frequent complication occurring in the target population. Introduction: CSOM is a long standing infection of a part or whole of the middle ear cleft characterized by ear discharge and a permanent perforation. It affects both sexes and all age groups. Pathways of spread of infection: Direct bone erosion, venous thrombophlebitis, preformed pathways. Classification of complications: Intracranial - Mastoiditis, facial paralysis, labrynthitis, petrositis. Extracranial - Meningitis, extradural abscess, subdural abscess, brain abscess, lateral sinus thrombophlebitis, otitic hydrocephalus. Development of complications depends upon; organism's virulence, poor resistance of the patient, systemic disease, resistance to antibiotics, poor socioeconomic status, lack of awareness about healthcare, lack of availability of trained specialist. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from 2008 to 2013 in ENT Head and Neck Surgery Department, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Record of 65 patients was selected through nonprobability convenient sampling; sample was divided into two groups according to age Group A 10-18 years and Group B 18-45 years. Data were analyzed on SPSS software; Chi-square test was used and P < 0.05 was considered significant with confidence interval taken as 95%. Results: Population means age was found to be 18.28. Population sex dominant was male 63.1%. Mean duration of complaints is 1.69. There are strong associations between duration of complaints and family income (P = 0.05), and also between age of patient and diagnosed complication (P = 0.00). Conclusions: Most of the patients were of poor socioeconomic background with disease negligence, delayed treatment, poor access to health facilities and improper use of antibiotics. Mostly low age group patients develop complications.