Article Sidebar
Article Details
Issue
Section
Articles
Copyright of the journal's content belongs to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
The copyright of a submitted article is only transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers.
The copyright of a submitted article is only transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers.
Main Article Content
Incidence of Epistaxis in a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana
Abstract
Epistaxis is defined as bleeding from the nasal cavity. It is a very common Otorhinolaryngological problem that often presents as an emergency to the outpatient departments of most hospitals worldwide. Its true incidence is often very difficult to assess. This study was aimed at analyzing aetiology, treatment and management outcome of patients who presented with epistaxis at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana. This is a three year retrospective study (Jan2007-Dec 2010). All cases of epistaxis that presented at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic at KATH) or referred from the polyclinics and the district hospitals were included. A total number of 96 cases were seen with epistaxis over a period of three years. There were 63 (66%) males and 33 (34%) females. Their ages ranged from 1-80 years. The commonest cause of epistaxis was idiopathic with 51 (53%) cases followed by nasal trauma with 11 (11.5%) cases and nasopharyngeal carcinoma 8 (8.3).This study supports the clinical usefulness of conservative management in the treatment of patients with epistaxis.
