Quality of life of patients with allergic rhinitis at a South African referral hospital: a prospective cross-sectional study

Allergic rhinitis causes nasal as well as extranasal symptoms, and may adversely affect quality of life. The aims of this study were to determine the impact of allergic rhinitis on the health-related quality of life of adult patients attending the Ear Nose and Throat clinic at Universitas Academic Hospital, a public referral hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa, and to determine the change in the health-related quality of life of patients with allergic rhinitis after one month of treatment. This was a prospective cross-sectional study of adult patients who were newly diagnosed with allergic rhinitis. Patients completed the Mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniRQLQ) at initial presentation and at follow-up after one month of appropriate treatment. Eighty-five (85) patients were included. At the initial visit, patients were most troubled by activity limitations and nasal symptoms, with a blocked nose being the most troublesome nasal symptom. There was a statistically significant improvement in scores of all domains after one month of treatment, with the mean total symptom score improving from 2.05±0.73 to 0.94±0.49. Allergic rhinitis had a negative impact on quality of life of patients. Appropriate treatment resulted in an improvement in quality of life

Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a condition caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) that occurs in both children and adults, characterized by recurrent growths of intraluminal papillomas in the airway, usually in the larynx. Patients present with dysphonia (both roughness and breathiness), coughing, and eventually airway obstruction. The most common causative HPV types are HPV6 and HPV11. RRP has a significant adverse effect on quality of life. In the absence of a curative treatment, patients have to undergo frequent surgical procedures. Some patients require more than a 100 procedures. Several adjuvant therapies have been proposed to reduce the severity of disease and the number of surgical interventions. The introduction of vaccines against HPV6 and HPV11 can reduce the incidence of RRP.</p

Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a condition caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) that occurs in both children and adults, characterized by recurrent growths of intraluminal papillomas in the airway, usually in the larynx. Patients present with dysphonia (both roughness and breathiness), coughing, and eventually airway obstruction. The most common causative HPV types are HPV6 and HPV11. RRP has a significant adverse effect on quality of life. In the absence of a curative treatment, patients have to undergo frequent surgical procedures. Some patients require more than a 100 procedures. Several adjuvant therapies have been proposed to reduce the severity of disease and the number of surgical interventions. The introduction of vaccines against HPV6 and HPV11 can reduce the incidence of RRP.</p

Informed consent for suspension microlaryngoscopy:what should we tell the patient? A consensus statement of the European Laryngological Society

Introduction: Informed consent for any surgical intervention is necessary, as only well-informed patients can actively participate in the decision-making process about their care, and better understand the likely or potential outcomes of their treatment. No consensus exists on informed consent for suspension microlaryngoscopy (SML). Materials and methods: Informed consent procedures in nine countries on five continents were studied. Results: Several risks can be discerned: risks of SML as procedure, anesthesiologic risks of SML, specific risks of phonosurgery, risks of inadequate glottic exposure or unexpected findings, risks of not treating. SML has recognized potential complications, that can be divided in temporary (minor) complications, and lasting (major) complications. Conclusion: SML is a safe procedure with low morbidity, and virtually no mortality. Eleven recommendations are provided

Paediatric chronic suppurative otitis media in the Free State Province: Clinical and audiological features

Background. Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a chronic infection of the middle ear cleft. In sub-Saharan Africa &gt;50% of cases occur in children &lt;10 years of age.Objectives. To describe the otological, audiological and bacteriological findings in children with CSOM.Methods. We conducted a prospective study at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Clinic at Universitas Academic Hospital between August 2009 and December 2010. We included all children with CSOM over this period. Patients underwent ENT and paediatric examination, and were tested for HIV. Pus swabs were taken after an ear toilet for routine microbiology, fungal and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture. We performed audiological testing after the otorrhoea had resolved.Results. Eighty-six children (113 ears) were included, with a median age of 4.6 years (range 1 - 12 years). The mean duration of otorrhoea was 161.7 weeks (range 4 - 572 weeks). Nine patients (10.5%) presented with coalescent mastoiditis and/or intracranial complications of CSOM. Of the 153 organisms identified; Gram-negative bacteria were present in 93 (82.3%) ears, with 94.8% of these being sensitive to quinolones. Only 1 case of tuberculous otitis media was identified. HIV infection was present in 54.6% of patients tested. There was a hearing loss in 44 (66.7%) of the tested affected ears.Conclusions. There was a long delay between the onset of symptoms and accessing ENT services. Most cases of CSOM were due to quinolone-sensitive Gram-negative aerobes. There was a high prevalence of cholesteatoma, hearing loss and other complications in children in this study