Introduction: Chronic otitis media is a chronic inflammation of the middle ear and mastoid cavity, with recurrent ear discharges or otorrhoea through a tympanic perforation for the past 3 months. It is a common cause of hearing impairment, disability, and poor scholastic performance and can lead to fatal intracranial infections and acute mastoiditis. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of chronic otitis media among patients visiting community-based static outreach clinics.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients visiting the community-based static outreach clinics from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019. The ethical approval was taken from the Ethical Review Board. The diagnosis of chronic otitis media was done using otoscopy. The records of patients coming to outreach clinics visiting for ear, nose and throat care were reviewed using a pre-designed study proforma. A systematic random sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval.
Results: Among 385 patients, 37 (9.61%) (6.67-12.55, 95% Confidence Interval) had chronic otitis media. The mean age of patients with chronic otitis media was 27.59±13.24 years, with 28 (75.67%) patients aged between 18-60 years. Among them, 30 (81.08%) had unilateral and 34 (91.89%) had a mucosal type.
Conclusions: The prevalence of chronic otitis media was lower than in other studies done in similar settings.
Keywords: community health services; otitis media; patients; prevalence.