Clinical Outcomes of Medical and Surgical Treatments in Children with ENT Disorders
Introduction
Pediatric ENT disorders are common causes of outpatient and emergency visits, impacting hearing, speech, sleep, school performance, and growth. Frequent conditions include otitis media, tonsillitis, adenoid hypertrophy, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis. Untreated otitis media may cause hearing loss, while enlarged adenoids and tonsils lead to sleep-disordered breathing and behavioral issues. Allergic rhinitis predisposes to nasal obstruction and sinus infections. Diagnosis involves otoscopy, audiology, tympanometry, and endoscopy, with imaging for select cases. Management ranges from medications to surgeries like adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, and ventilation tube insertion. Supportive care includes speech therapy and nutrition. Early intervention prevents complications and improves outcomes.
Aim
To estimate the prevalence of ENT disorders in children and assess the impact of early detection and clinical outcomes of medical and surgical treatments on the quality of life.
Method
Study Design
- Prospective, descriptive study
Patient Profile
- Children aged 0-14 years with clinically diagnosed ENT disorders
- Children with otitis media, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, foreign body ingestion, tonsillitis and adenoid hypertrophy
- Patients with systemic comorbidities and incomplete data were excluded
Treatment Strategy
- Clinical evaluation of pediatric ENT cases involved detailed history-taking, physical examination, otoscopy, and nasopharyngeal assessment, with audiometry, tympanometry, and selective imaging for suspected conditions
- Management followed standard guidelines, starting with medical therapy—age-appropriate antibiotics, analgesics, antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids, and universal nasal saline irrigation
- Nasal decongestants were used cautiously in children over six for short durations to prevent rebound congestion
- Surgical interventions, including adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, and tympanostomy tube insertion, were reserved for refractory or obstructive cases
- Supportive care such as speech therapy and nutritional counselling complemented treatment
- Scheduled follow-ups ensured symptom resolution and monitored developmental progress
Endpoints
- Prevalence of ENT disorders
- Clinical efficacy of medical and surgical treatments
Results
- The prevalence of ENT disorders are as seen in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Prevalence of ENT disorders
- Symptoms got resolved effectively with medical treatment in most infection-related cases, while surgical procedures such as adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, and tympanostomy tube insertion resulted in improved airway obstruction and reduced recurrence as seen in Table 1.
Table 1. Clinical outcomes of management strategies
|
Management strategy |
% of patients |
Improvement rate (%) |
P value |
|
Antibiotics (otitis media, sinusitis) |
45 |
90 |
0.001 |
|
Antihistamines and nasal sprays (AR) |
15 |
75 |
0.004 |
|
Surgical interventions (tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, myringotomy with tube insertion) |
35 |
85 |
<0.001 |
|
Supportive care (speech therapy, nutritional support) |
5 |
80 |
0.021 |
- All children sustained the clinical improvement during follow-up
Conclusion
- Early recognition and appropriate treatment of pediatric ENT disorders ensure effective management
- Enhancing caregiver awareness and improving access to ENT services can significantly reduce preventable complications and support healthy child development
Cureus. 2025 Nov;17(11):e97004. Doi: 10.7759/cureus.97004.
