Evaluation of Otorhinolaryngological Disease-Screening Results and Socioeconomic Status in Primary School Children

Abstract

Objectives:To investigate the incidence of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) diseases at primary school children and its distribution according to the students’ socioeconomic status.Materials and Methods:A total of 1282 primary school children were examined considering the otorhinolaryngological diseases. A detailed history was taken, all patients underwent ear, nose and throat examinations and tympanometry was performed next. Two of the primary schools located in the rural area with lower socioeconomic level (group B) and one primary school in the city center with higher socioeconomic level (group A) were compared in aspect of prevalence of ENT diseases. Difference between the groups was compared statistically by using the Chi-Square test.Results:It was found that ENT diseases are more commonly detected in the students in school with low socioeconomic level than that of school with higher socioeconomic level.Conclusion:In addition there can be differences between incidences of otorhinolaryngological diseases depending on age, country, race and season, it was found that socioeconomic level affects the incidence of otorhinolaryngological diseases at primary school children. Parents and teachers must be educated about high incidence of ENT diseases among primary school children.

Keywords

• otorhinolaryngological diseases
• socioeconomic status
• primary school.