Prevalence of Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorder Among School going Children

Abstract

Background: Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders are common among school-going children and contribute significantly to morbidity, impaired hearing, and poor academic performance, particularly in low-resource settings. Despite this burden, data on the prevalence and pattern of ENT disorders among children in Bangladesh remain limited. Objective: To assess the prevalence and pattern of ENT disorders among school-going children attending a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the ENT Outpatient Department of Bangladesh Medical University from February to July 2025. A total of 84 school-going children aged 6–15 years were included using convenience sampling. Data were collected through a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire and clinical examination by an ENT specialist. Descriptive statistics were used to determine prevalence, and the Chi-square test was applied to assess associations between ENT disorders and socio-demographic variables. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 84 children attending school who were examined, 38 (45.2%) presented with at least one ENT condition. Otitis media occurred most often (21.4%), and tonsillitis followed with 14.3%. The largest percentage of impacted children was observed in the 6–9-year age range, with a decline in older age categories, demonstrating a notable relationship with age (p = 0.03). ENT disorders were marginally more prevalent in males (47.8%) compared to females (42.1%), but this disparity was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Nearly half of school-going children had ENT disorders, most commonly otitis media. Younger children were more affected, with no significant gender difference. Early detection, screening, and awareness are essential to reduce complications.

J Med Coll Women Hosp.2026; 22(2): 109-116