Pain Presentation in Otorhinolaryngological Practice in a Tertiary Health Care Center

Pain Presentation in Otorhinolaryngology

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Otorhinolaryngological, head, and neck pain is one of the most common reasons for consultation in ear, nose, and throat practices.This present study aimed at determining the otorhinolaryngology, head and neck pain prevalence, sociodemographic features, clinical presentation, and prehospital treatment among patients presenting in our center.

Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional study

Setting: Tertiary hospital center

Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study of patients presenting with otorhinolaryngological, head, and pain. Sociodemographic features of the patients and detailed clinical features of the pain were collected and recorded in special forms. Data obtained were collated and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.

Results: The prevalence of otorhinolaryngology, head and neck pain was 27.6%. Among the patients, 42.4% were males with a female to male ratio of 1.4:1.

Commonest site of pain was 37.3% ear. Other were 23.3% head and 14.6% throat. Trauma caused 29.6% pain and infection was 59.7%. Common associated symptoms were 31.7% hearing loss, 31.4% catarrh, 23.4% odynophagia and 42.4% fever.

Most patients 51.7% presented between 1 week and 3 months duration of pain while 30.4% presented at more than 3 months. Recurrent pain accounted for 63.1% while primary pain accounted for 91.1%.

The majority 91.3% of the patients were referred and the main source of referral was 53.9%, general practitioners. The majority 71.9% presented in the outpatient clinic followed by the emergency ward in 25.8%.

Regarding prior treatment before presentation, 95.7% had analgesics 71.4% were on antibiotics, 84.2% were on herbal medication and 4.2% had a traditional surgery.

Conclusion: Otorhinolaryngology, head, and neck pain was a common presentation in our center. It must be considered as one of the differential diagnosis of head and neck pain.  Most of the patients presented late at the outpatient clinic with recurrent pain. Major source of referral was from general practitioners. The majority of the patients were wrongly treated.

Keywords: Ear nose throat pain Prevalence Treatment Nigeria