Hoarseness in children: An aetiological profile in North-Eastern Nigeria

Background: Hoarseness is a disorder characterised by altered vocal quality, pitch, loudness or vocal efforts that impairs communication or reduces related quality of life. This study determines the various aetiological factors of hoarseness in children. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 131 children who presented with hoarseness. The data extracted included child′s bio-data, onset and duration of hoarseness, airway obstruction, gastro-eosophageal reflux disease and drug treatment, head and neck trauma or surgery. Following a thorough ENT examination, older children had fiber-optic nasopharyngo laryngoscopy. Tissue biopsy was by direct laryngoscopy under general anaesthesia. Data was analyzed with the use of SPSS version 16.0. Results: One hundred and thirty one children with hoarseness were reviewed. There were 85(64.7%) males and 46(35.1%) females. Age ranges from 1 month to 15 years with a mean of 7.73+4.0Gyears. Age group, 5-9 years (40.5%) were more affected with a duration of hoarseness ranging from 1 day to 4.5 years and mean of 5.31+9.42 years. The commonest causes of hoarseness were RRP 60(45.8%) and laryngeal infections 22(16.8%). Emergency tracheostomy was done in 65(49.6%) of patients. Conclusion: We observed varied causes of hoarseness in children. Delay in presentation worsens prognosis. Hence hoarseness in children lasting for more than 3 weeks should bee valuated by and ear, nose and throat specialist

Diabetes mellitus, glycosylated heamoglobin levels and hearing impairment in adults

Background: The aim of this study is to examine the auditory function in adult diabetics and to determine the association between, duration of diabetes, glycosylation, and hearing impairment. Methods: A one year hospital based prospective study of adult diabetic patients consecutively attending the endocrinology clinic of university of Maiduguri teaching hospital. Fasting blood sugar and glycosylated heamoglobin levels were estimated. The degree of hearing loss was assessed using pure tone average of air conduction thresholds at frequencies between 250-8000 Hz. Equal number of healthy controls matched for age and sex had PTA. Results: There were 150 patients recruited but 127 patients (50 males and 77 females; mean age: 47.8 ±11.6) years were analyzed. The 1-5 years duration of diabetes was the highest constituting 43.4% of patients (43.4%). The mean fasting blood sugar and glycosylated heamoglobin levels were 8.6 mmol/L ± 4.1 and 9.0% ± 2.0%, respectively. Mild sensorineural hearing loss was observed in 63 (49.6%) patients. There was no significant correlation between the diabetics PTA and the controls (p=0.542). The duration of illness significantly correlated with hearing impairment (p<=0.0001), but there was no significant correlation between glycosylated heamoglobin levels and hearing impairment, (p=0.154). Conclusion: Mild sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the main type of hearing impairment in diabetics. Duration of illness correlated significantly with hearing impairment