The percentage of otitis types in patients being reffered to ENT clinic: a brief report

Background: Otitis is the most common infectious disease of the ear with internal and external cranial complications. If the infection is in the middle ear, it causes otitis media. If the infection is in the external ear, it’s along with otitis externa (OE). Different types of otitis media include acute otitis media (AOM), chronic otitis media (COM) and Otitis media with effusion (OME). This study aimed to investigate the different types of otitis and its symptoms. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2019 to February 2020 for 200 patients who have been referred to the ENT center of Shafa hospital, Kerman, Iran. Sampling was conducted with ease and no need for specified sampling distribution. The type of otitis was written in a questionnaire by the physician after the examination. The present research investigated types of otitis along with its symptoms. Also, their demographic information was determined. Results: This study was done among 200 patients. 106(53%) participants were diagnosed with external otitis and the most common symptoms include discharge from the ear, inflammation and pain of the ear. 53 patients (26.5%) had acute otitis media with the most common symptoms of tympanic membrane color change and otalgia. 22 patients (11%) were diagnosed with chronic otitis media. So, perforation of the tympanic membrane and otorrhea were considered as the most common symptoms for these patients. 9(9.5%) of participants had otitis media with effusion that aural fullness and reduction of hearing were the most common signs. In this research, most of the patients were between the age of 11 to 30.57% of patients in this study were men and 43% were women. Most of the patients were between the age of 30-40 and the least number of patients were over the age of 70. Among the 200 patients, most of them lived in cities and provinces rather than villages. 67.5% of patients didn’t have an academic certificate. Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of otitis among patients with ENT disorder, it was recommended that otitis should be recognized and cured.