Sociodemographic and Clinical Characterization of Pediatric Patients with Simple Chronic Otitis Media

Abstract

Introduction. Otitis media is a high-frequency entity, which mainly affects childhood, it is more common in developing countries and there is highly variable prevalence within the population.

Objective: To characterize sociodemographically and clinically pediatric patients with simple chronic otitis media.

Methods: An applied, descriptive, cross-sectional and observational research was carried out. The sample was non-probabilistic of the intentional type and consisted of 39 pediatric patients with simple chronic otitis media, who attended the Otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic at Pepe Portilla Provincial Pediatric Hospital. Information was obtained through a semi-structured interview and observation.

Results: Prevalence of female sex (59%), white race (85%) and school age as an age group (49%) were observed. The largest number of patients came from urban areas (51%). Recurrent acute otitis media prevailed as risk factor (97%). In the bacteriological and microbiological study, the most frequent germ was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (47%). The clinical status was characterized by hearing loss (95%).

Conclusions: Simple chronic otitis media is an important cause of preventable hearing loss, the importance of knowing and studying the subject lies in the fact that it is a disease that causes disability due to hearing loss, learning disorders, in addition to serious complications that can even cause death.