Prevalence of otitis media with effusion among primary school children in Kinta Valley, Perak
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Date
2002-05
Authors
Simon, Rosalind
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
The ascertain prevalence of otitis media with effusion among primary school
children between the ages of 7 to 12 years in Kinta Valley in the state of Perak in
Malaysia. This was a pilot study done in this state.
This was a cross sectional study done between October 1999 to November 2000.
A total of 1056 students between the ages of 7 to 12 years were screened. Five
national schools in the Kinta Valley were chosen. All the three major ethnic groups
in Malaysia were screened, that is, the Malays, Chinese and Indians . Consent
from Ministry of Education, the respective school headmasters and parents were
obtained. The students were screened using otoscopy and portable
tympanometry. Children who had exhibited abnormal otoscopy findings and / or
abnormal tympanogram were given referral letters for further evaluation in
Hospital lpoh which is a tertiary hospital. At Hospital lpoh, these children were
further evaluated and pure tone audiogram was done. This was done to see the
degree of hearing deficiency among these children.
Of the 1056 students screened, there were 610 males and 448 females. There
were equal number of student distribution among all the age groups. Malays
formed the major group screened, which is in keeping with the national census,
where Malays form the majority group. Of the total 1 056 students screened, the
prevalence of otitis media with effusion was only 1.8o/o and this was prevalent only
in the Malays ethnic group. There was also equal distribution of the prevalence of
otitis media with effusion among the gender group. It was also seen to be higher in
the younger age group and decreases as the age increases. The hearing
deficiency among those diagnosed with otitis media with effusion was almost
minimal with only 0.2% having conductive hearing loss more than 30dB.
The prevalence of otitis media with effusion among the school children between
the ages of 7 and 12 years old in the Kinta Valley was low with only 1.8% having
this disease.
Description
Keywords
Otitis media