Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects and Therapy of Chronic Otitis Media in the “ENT” and Cervicofacial Surgery Ward in the University Hospital of Ouagadougou

Objectives. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological and clinical aspects of chronic otitis media and its therapeutic processes in our context. Patients and Methods. In a prospective study over a period of 1 year (March 2009–February 2010), 79 patients with chronic otitis media have been cared for in the otolaryngology ward of the University Hospital of Ouagadougou. Results. Chronic otitis media (COM) commonly occurs in the age group from 0 to 15 years (40.50%). Otorrhea was the main reason for consultation in 53 cases (67.10%); the most frequently encountered clinicopathological forms were simple COM (71%) followed by otitis media with effusion (24.30%). Intra-auricular instillations of traditional products (46.09%) were the dominant favoring factor. Treatment was essentially through medication in 59 cases with a stabilization of lesions. Endotemporal complications were noticed in 6 cases. Conclusion. The fight against chronic otitis media is carried out through preventive measures of education the of people. 1. Introduction Chronic otitis media (COM) remains a frequent pathology. Its evolution can run through serious complications and irreversible damage [1, 2], mainly in our areas which are characterized by low medication and delays in referral specialist consultations. The issue of the COM in developing countries still lies not only in its diagnostic approaches, but also in its treatment modalities. The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of this disease at the University Hospital of Ouagadougou. 2. Patients and Methods This prospective descriptive study focused on 79 patients with COM, aged from 6 months to 75 years. These cases have been collected from March 1 2009, to February 29 2010, in the ENT ward of the University Hospital (CHU-YO) of Ouagadougou. Eight hundred and fifty ears were examined during the study. It included all patients with COM who came in consultation during the said period in the service and had given their informed consent. The diagnosis of COM was based upon the following arguments: chronic inflammation of the middle ear lasting for more than 3 months with otorrhea or not, and changes in the eardrum, eardrum perforation or not, pure tone threshold audiometry showing a hearing loss. Patients had a follow-up control check on the 15th, 30th, 60th, and 90th days after treatment. Controls evaluated local changes (ending of otorrhea, aspect of the eardrum, and the bottom case, with research of complications). We developed a data collection sheet taking into