Background: Ear, nose, and throat infections are serious public health concerns affecting patients of all ages. They can affect hearing difficulties, speech, phonation, breathing, swallowing, smell, taste, and other respiratory tract infections. This study aimed to determine the pattern of otolaryngological head and neck diseases seen at Qassim University outpatient clinics, Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: This descriptive retrospective study was conducted in outpatient clinics at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. This study involved 2,596 patients treated by otolaryngologists from January 2018 to December 2020. The data were extracted from patients' digital files, and all analyzed statistically using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21.
Results: This study included 2,596 patients (64% male, 36% female) with a mean age of 34.5 years (range: 1-90 years). Nose diseases were most frequently seen (47.7%), followed by ear diseases (38.2%). Allergic rhinitis (AR) was the most commonly treated nose problem (20.1%). In the multivariate regression model, deviated nasal septum was more likely to be seen in men than women. Moreover, the presence of a deviated nasal septum, hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, rhinitis, and laryngitis were more likely to be associated with an older age group (>35 years).
Conclusion: The prevalence of ear nose throat diseases was higher in men than in women. The most commonly treated age group was 18-30 years. More studies on AR and other disorders need to be conducted to determine local risk factors. Healthcare managers and medical educators are advised to review these data to provide excellent care and education.
Key words: ENT disease, otolaryngologist, ear infection, nasal infection, throat infection
|
