CLINICAL PATTERNS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRONIC SUPPURATIVE OTITIS MEDIA AMONG SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN PRESENTING TO A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Background: Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) is a common childhood ear disease that can adversely affect hearing, speech and language development, educational performance, and quality of life. Information on the clinical profile and associated characteristics of affected children is important for planning preventive and management strategies, particularly in resource-limited settings. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted over a six-month period among 90 school-going children aged 6–14 years diagnosed with CSOM at a tertiary care centre. Participants were enrolled by consecutive sampling. Data regarding sociodemographic characteristics, clinical profile, healthcare-seeking behaviour, caregiver knowledge, and environmental factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Otomicroscopy was done. Data were analysed using SPSS version 16.0 and presented as frequencies and percentages. Results: Of the 90 children studied, 58 (64.4%) were males and 32 (35.6%) were females. Active ear discharge was the most common presenting complaint (45.5%), followed by hearing loss (38.8%) and ear pain (12.2%). Bilateral disease was observed in 52.2% of cases. Frequently reported characteristics among children with CSOM included exposure to loud noise (86.6%), recurrent upper respiratory tract infections (86.6%), head bathing without ear protection (80.0%), overcrowded living conditions (77.7%), and nasal problems/allergy (72.2%). Delay in seeking medical care beyond three months was noted in 64.4% of children. Only 24% of caregivers demonstrated adequate knowledge regarding possible complications of CSOM. Conclusion: School-aged children with CSOM attending this tertiary care centre commonly exhibited environmental, clinical, and socioeconomic characteristics that may contribute to disease persistence. Delayed healthcare-seeking behaviour and limited caregiver awareness were frequently observed. Strengthening caregiver education, promoting early medical consultation, and implementing community-based screening programmes may help reduce the burden of CSOM in children.