Foreign bodies in the ear, nose and throat at the federal teaching hospital, Gombe-north-eastern, Nigeria

Abstract

Foreign bodies (FBs) are common ENT emergencies all over the world. Children have been found to be commonly affected due to their curiosity and desire to explore their environment. Objective: To evaluate the clinical presentations, management and the outcomes of ear, nose and throat foreign bodies in a tertiary hospital setting. Method: This a three-year retrospective study of patients presented with foreign bodies to the ENT department. The demographic information, sites and sides of foreign bodies, nature of foreign bodies, management and outcomes were extracted from their records and analysed. Results: There were 34 (45.9%) males and 40 (54.1%) females with Male to Female ratio of 1: 1.8. Inanimate objects 60 (81%) were the common FBs aspirated, while 4 (5.4%) were animate FBs aspirated. In 28.4% of the patients presented to the hospital in the first three days of aspiration. The symptoms include sensation/ discomfort, accidental finding, Otalgia, ear discharge, bleeding among others. Lodgment is more common in the left nostril 9 (56.2%), throat 11 (55.0%) and right ear 19 (50.0%) among those with nasal, throat and ear foreign bodies respectively. The complications included infection, bleeding among others. Conclusion: FBs aspiration was found to be commoner among children than in adults due to the fact that children explore their environment.