Effectiveness of hearing conservation program at a large surface gold mining company in Ghana.

A study conducted to determine the effectiveness of a Hearing Conservation Programme (HcP) was conducted in a surface gold mining Company in Ghana. The procedure adopted included a retrospective review and comparison of individual Audiograms from 1999-2003. The analysis of data was based on 200 workers at various departments namely Pit, processing, geology, survey, engineering, utility Health and Safety. The criteria used was an average shift of 10dB or more at 2000, 3000 and 4000Hz. The result showed that 7% developed a positive and negative hearing loss. That is, hearing loss got worse in 5.5% while it has actually improved in 1.5% of the workers. Again, 45 workers had shifts of less than 10dB at frequencies, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000Hz. Out of this (45), 27% had shifts of less than 10dB at frequencies not included in the criteria. The Hearing Conservation Programme (HCP) is effective since less than 6% of workers have additional hearing loss. African Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 14 (1-2) 2007: pp. 49-5

Preauricular Sinus: My Surgical Experience at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

The objective of this paper is to describe the shortcomings of the standard technique for treatment of preauricular sinus (PAS) and to emphasize on an alternative modification of the standard surgical technique. PAS is a common congenital abnormality. Usually these lesions are asymptomatic. However, some patients complain of discharge and/or recurrent infections, requiring excision of the PAS. Surgical treatment of PAS is characterized by high recurrence rates. This paper describes our surgical experience in the treatment of PAS.Keywords: Standard technique, Methylene blue dye, Preauricular sinus trac

Incidence of Epistaxis in a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana

Epistaxis is defined as bleeding from the nasal cavity. It is a very common Otorhinolaryngological problem that often presents as an emergency to the outpatient departments of most hospitals worldwide. Its true incidence is often very difficult to assess. This study was aimed at analyzing aetiology, treatment and management outcome of patients who presented with epistaxis at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana. This is a three year retrospective study (Jan2007-Dec 2010). All cases of epistaxis that presented at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic at KATH) or referred from the polyclinics and the district hospitals were included. A total number of 96 cases were seen with epistaxis over a period of three years. There were 63 (66%) males and 33 (34%) females. Their ages ranged from 1-80 years. The commonest cause of epistaxis was idiopathic with 51 (53%) cases followed by nasal trauma with 11 (11.5%) cases and nasopharyngeal carcinoma 8 (8.3).This study supports the clinical usefulness of conservative management in the treatment of patients with epistaxis

Characteristics of hearing-impairment among patients in Ghana

The causes, and characteristics of hearing-impairment were determined prospectively among six thousand, four hundred and twenty-eight (6,428) patients who reported at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) with hearing problems. The purpose of the study was to determine the characteristics and some causes of hearing loss of patients who report for management at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The procedure adopted included a detailed case history, Otoscopy and Pure-tone Audiometry. Of the 6,428 patients, 5,734 (89.9%) were diagnosed as having significant hearing loss. There were more hearing impaired women than men at all ages. Majority of the patients had mild hearing loss. The overall prevalence of Sensorineural Hearing Loss was more in worse ear than better ear. Again, the occurrence of Sensorineural Hearing Loss was more than other types of hearing loss. Noise, Fever, Presbycusis, Sickness, Meningitis and Meniere\'s diseases were the major causes of Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Conductive Hearing Loss was attributed in the main to Wax, Foreign Bodies, Otitis Media, and Traumas. These findings have important implications on the need of resources for rehabilitation. African Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 13 (1-2) 2008: pp. 110-11

Prevalence of Hearing Loss in Patients with Acute Otitis Media

The study was a prospective, cross-sectional type conducted at the Ear, Nose and Throat Department of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) over a six month period from 1st August 2005 to 31st January 2006. Fifty one patients involving 69 ears (few with bilateral and majority with unilateral hearing loss) were interviewed followed by otoscopic ear examination, pure tone audiometry using AC 30 audiometer and tympanometric test. The hearing loss of participants was thus determined before and after treatment to establish the change in hearing over the period. The results showed that hearing loss occurs in majority of sufferers of acute otitis media. The prevalence of acute otitis media (AOM) is low in adults, but it is quite high in children (91.3%) of reported cases.Keywords: Acute otitis media, hearing loss, tympanometry, Pure-tone  Audiometr