Prevalence of Foreign Body in the Otolaryngology Service in Ado Ekiti

Abstract

Aims: To determine the prevalence, sociodemographic features, clinical presentation, patterns of foreign body impaction and management in our center. Study Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria between October 2015 and September 2017. Methodology: An Interviewer-assisted questionnaire was used to collect data from 233 consecutive and consented patients with an impacted otorhinolaryngeal foreign body. Analysis of the obtained data done with SPSS version 16.0. Results: Prevalence of otorhinolaryngeal foreign body impaction was 7.8%. There were 60.9% males and 39.1% of females with a male to female ratio of 2:1. There were 57.9% ear, 31.3% nasal and 10.7% throat foreign body. Main types of the foreign body were 76.8% organic (living or dead). The most frequent foreign bodies were the cotton bud, seeds, foam, beads, and insects in 22.3%, 13.3%, 11.6%, 10.7%, and 9.9% respectively. The most prevalent mode of otorhinolaryngology foreign body presentation was foreign body impaction in 93.1%, pain in 54.1%, hearing impairment in 41.6%, bleeding in 35.2%, and discharge in 26.2% and nasal blockage in 25.3%. A single episode of otorhinolaryngology foreign body in 96.1% was commoner than recurrent cases in 3.9% of the patients. Associated complications of the impacted otorhinolaryngology foreign body were 22.3% injury/bleeding, 13.7% otitis externa and 12.4% hearing impairment. The most common predisposing factors for otorhinolaryngology foreign body were 22.3% allergy and 20.6% earwax impaction. All the patients had the foreign body removed. Pre-hospital treatment occurred in 164(70.4%) with unpleasant complications. Conclusion: There were various foreign body impactions in all the age group. Prehospital attempted removal by unskilled sympathisers leads to avoidable complications. Foreign body retrieval required skilled hands and appropriate instruments.