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A audit of paediatric nasal foreign bodies in Ilorin, Nigeria

olushola A Afolabi, Olayinka A Suleiman, Shuaib K Aremu, Paul A Eletta, segun Segun-busari, Suleiman B Alabi, Adekunle D Dunmade, Foluwasayo E Ologe

Abstract


Background
Nasal foreign bodies are common occurrences in our daily clinical practice. The study is aimed at finding out the pattern of foreign body in the nose seen among children, treatment modalities and outcome.
Methodology
This is a year preliminary report (August 2005 – July 2006) of a prospective study of all patients seen in the ENT clinic, accident and emergencies, and the emergency paediatric unit of UITH Ilorin.

Results
Seventy-one patients with nasal foreign bodies were seen constitute 41% of all foreign bodies in ENT with M : F ratio of 1.5:1. The age range was from 1 – 14years with under fives constituting 71.8% mean age is 2.5yrs (S.D=1.58). About 78.9% of these children are in primary school and below. The most common foreign body was grains/seeds in 35.2%. Commonest presentation was within 1-5days in 26.8% then 25.4% within 6-24hrs, self insertion noticed in 50.7% and most insertion were on the right in 67.6%. About 39.4% of these insertions occurred in the school. No symptoms was observed in 56.3% and Parents observed first in 63.4% of the subject. Attempted removal was reported in 32.4%.
Most removal was by senior registrars in 60.6% and under restriction in 88.7% with jobson-hornes probe. Epistaxis post removal noticed in 50.7% and 1.4% had septal perforation. Under general anaesthesia 98.6% were delivered per-nasals and 1.4% per oral.
Conclusion
Nasal foreign body in our opinion is still a challenge among the under fives and despite high proportion of cases managed in office setting, there is need for primary health care giver to identify their limit for an acceptable outcome.

Authors' affiliations

olushola A Afolabi,

Olayinka A Suleiman,

Shuaib K Aremu,

Paul A Eletta,

segun Segun-busari,

Suleiman B Alabi,

Adekunle D Dunmade,

Foluwasayo E Ologe,

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Keywords

Nasal foreign body, Insertion, Epistaxis,

Cite this article

South African Journal of Child Health 2009;3(2):64.

Article History

Date submitted: 2009-03-10
Date published: 2009-08-26

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