Abstract

Background: Otalgia is a discomforting otological symptom. The cause may be within or outside the ear. This study aimed at determining the clinico-epidemiological patterns, quality of life, type and aetiology of otalgia. Materials and Methods: It is a prospective hospital based study of patients with complaints of earache. The study was carried out in the ear, nose and throat department of Ekiti state university teaching hospital, Ado Ekiti over a period of one year, from May 2016 to April 2017. Data were obtained by using pretested interview assisted questionnaires from subjects that gave consent. Data obtained were collated, documented and analyzed by using SPSS version 16.0. Ethical clearance was sought for this study from the ethical committee of the institution. Results: Out of a total of 2,616 patients seen, 947 patients presented with complaints of earache. The prevalence of otalgia was 36.2%. There were 31.3% children (1-18 years) and 68.7% adults. The peaked age of otalgia occured at third decade (21-30 years), with a prevalence of 27.7%. There were 621(65.6%) males and 326 (34.4%) females with a male to female ratio of 2:1. Majority (89.1%) of the studied patients were Christian. About 26.6% of our patients were students/apprentice. Majority of the patients were referred to the department by general practitioners in 40.8% of the patients. In this study, main accompanied symptoms were otorrhea, hearing impairment, itching, ear fullness and feeling of movement in ear and these were 29.7%, 23.7%, 23.0%, 20.9% and 18.7% respectively. Other symptoms were toothache, sore throat, cough and hoarseness and these were 6.7%, 6.1%, 4.3% and 3.1% respectively. In this study, majority of the otalgia were secondary to 25.4% otitis externa, 13.6% impacted earwax, 11.9% otitis media and 7.7% tonsillitis. Otogenic otalgia accounted for 67.4% while referred otalgia accounted for 32.6%. Unilateral otalgia accounted for 80.6% while bilateral otalgia accounted for 19.4%. Right otalgia accounted for 47.4% and left otalgia accounted for 33.2% of the studied patients. Majority (65.7%) of the studied patients had noticed sleep disorder. Findings in this study revealed minority of the patients had 36.9% medical treatment while majority had 63.1% surgical treatment inform of ear lavage, aural toilet, aural dressing and foreign body removal. Prior to presentation in ENT department almost half (49.8%) of the patients had over the counter medication and 24.6% herbal treatment, 17.8% had prescribed medication while 7.7% had no treatment. Conclusions: Otalgia has high prevalence among complaints in otorhinolaryngological practice. The prevalence of otalgia was recorded in 36.2% of patients in this study. Majority of the patients presented to non specialist with otogenic and non otogenic aetiology effecting quality of life of sufferer.