To Study the Burden and Risk Factors for Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media in a Population of Sikkim, India: A Hospital Based Study

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) denotes a chronic inflammation of the middle ear and mastoid mucosa in which the tympanic membrane is not intact and discharge is present (Verhoeff et al. in Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 70:1-12, 2006). The risk factors for the development of CSOM have not been clearly established in the available literature. Risk factors of COM include low socioeconomic status, malnutrition, high number of children in the household, family history, and passive exposure to smoking (Lasisi et al. in Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 71:1549–1554, 2007). The effects of various host and environmental factors have not been well defined. There are very few studies to assess the risk factors and disease burden in the community. The study aims to estimate the disease burden of CSOM in the state of Sikkim which would help in effective treatment and control of the disease. This study which is the first of its kind in Sikkim would help us in identification of risk factors which could be present in the Sikkimese population and this could be attributed to ethnic as well as unique geographical factors of this place. Observational study where all Sikkimese patients reporting to ENT with ENT complaints were included after taking consent, The information was noted in a specific questionnaire and all patient were subjected to Otoscopic examination. Analyses using SPSS 17.00. A total of 497 subjects had participated in the study and all the relevant data has been categorized and tabulated according to the requirements of the study.