Objective: To determine the prevalence of hearing loss and otologic diseases among Filipinos living in the Southern Tagalog Region IV-A: CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Philippines.

Methods:

               Design: Retrospective Review of Community Survey Data

               Setting: Communities in Region IV-A provinces, Philippines

               Participants: 3267 residents of the five provinces aged 0 months and above

 Results: About 71.29% and 74.60% had at least mild hearing loss, in right and left ears, respectively. For disabling hearing impairment, overall prevalence was 26.33%, distributed into 11.87% among 4 to 18-year-olds; 8.97% for 19 to 64-year-olds; and 3.17% for 65-year-olds and above. Absence of prevalent and hearing loss-associated diseases: serous otitis media [OR 0.362, 95% CI 0.167 to 0.782, p = .010], CSOM [OR 0.407, 95% CI 0.236 to 0.703, p = .001] COM [OR 0.229, 95% CI 0.106 to 0.494, p < .001] can decrease the risk for hearing loss development in the region. Prevention of noise-induced hearing loss or delay in the manifestation of presbycusis can reduce the risk of having hearing loss by as much as 75% [OR 0.253, 95% CI (0.180 to 0.355), p < .001]. All pure tone audiometry measurements were obtained with surrounding median ambient noise of 55dB (IQR 46 to 60dB).

Conclusion: The prevalence of hearing loss among surveyed residents of the Southern Tagalog Region IV-A provinces was high compared to the previous nationwide study but low compared to other low- and middle-income countries. The top otologic conditions of this population (ear occlusion with ear wax, chronic suppurative otitis media, chronic otitis media, presbycusis, noise-induced hearing loss) were associated with hearing loss and their absence decreased the risks for hearing impairment.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged (a Person 65 Through 79 Years Of Age) ; Middle Aged (a Person 45-64 Years Of Age) ; Prevalence ; Hearing Loss ; Pediatrics ; Adult ; Presbycusis ; Otoscopy ; Otolaryngology

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and safety of Betahistine dihydrochloride (in beta cyclodextrin) with Betahistine dihydrochloride in treating patients with vertigo.
DESIGN/METHODS: This was a randomized, open label study enrolling 68 patients, ages 18 to 65 years old, diagnosed clinically with vertigo.
RESULTS: Sixty two patients completed the study. EEV scores of both groups continuously decreased to similar levels. EEV scores significantly deceased from baseline to week 4. In group A patients, EEV scores decreased from 9.81+/- 3.73 at baseline to 2.39 +/- 3.46, p<.001; similarly, in group B patients, EEV scores fell from 12.32 +/- 3.61 to 2.32 +/- 2.32 +/- .48, p
Group A patients reported 2.6 +\- 2.9 side effects while Group B patients reported 2.7 +/- 2.5 side effects (p=0.92). There were more patients who experienced vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and/ or diarrhea in Group B patients (8/32 in Group A vs 16/30 in Group B, p=0.022).
CONCLUSION: Betahistine dihydrochloride with beta cyclodextrin and Betahistine dihydrochloride alone are both effective in reducing the symptoms of dizziness from vertiginous syndromes. Betahistine dihydrochloride with beta cyclodextrin appears to have less gastrointestinal side effects than Betahistine dihydrochloride alone.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Vertigo ; Safety ; Betahistine ; Dizziness ; Nausea ; Syndrome ; Vertigo ; Vomiting ; Beta-cyclodextrins

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of post-tonsillectomy bleeding in our institution and to describe the clinical characteristics, tonsillectomy techniques and post-tonsillectomy bleeding intervention in these patients.

METHODS:
Design: Observational descriptive study
Setting: Tertiary private hospital
Population: All patients who were treated for post-tonsillectomy bleeding were retrospectively reviewed from medical records of all patients who had undergone tonsillectomy between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009. Age and sex, indication for surgery, tonsil grade, Body Mass Index (BMI), surgical technique, post-operative medications, length of hospital stay, interval between tonsillectomy and onset of bleeding and interventions to address post-operative bleeding were noted.

RESULTS: Of the 662 patients who underwent tonsillectomy, 37 (5.6%) were managed for post-operative hemorrhage. Most had grade 2 or 3 tonsils (18 or 48.6% and 16 or 43.2% respectively) and were obese (25 or 67.5%). The highest proportion of post-operative bleeding was 9.2% for bipolar cauterization technique (18 of 196 patients) followed by 7.4% with cold knife, monopolar cauterization and suturing (11 of 148 patients); 6.9% with harmonic scalpel (2 of 29 patients); 6.5% with monopolar and bipolar cauterization (3 of 46 patients), and 2.8% for cold knife or Fischer knife (3 of 109 patients). Seven patients (18.9%) required blood transfusion. Onset of bleeding occurred between 4-12 days following surgery (mean: 8 days). Possible causes of bleeding included heavy physical activity and cough but most had no identifiable cause. Majority of the patients (29 out of 37) required surgical exploration under general anesthesia.

CONCLUSION: Post-tonsillectomy bleeding is still a clinically significant complication despite advances in surgical techniques. Surgeons must always consider trade-offs between benefits and risks of the procedure and be continually vigilant of this potentially serious complication.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child Preschool ; Tonsillectomy ; General Surgery ; Postoperative Hemorrhage-prevalence, Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Care ; Wound Closure Techniques ; Medical Records ; Anesthesia

Objective: To report a case of primary non-Hodgkin's T-cell lymphoma in the temporal bone in a pediatric patient, discussing clinical presentation and course, diagnostic evaluation and management in the light of published literature.Methods: Design: Case report Setting: Private tertiary university hospital Patient: OneResults: An 8-year-old female with a 10-month history of otalgia and ipsilateral headache developed facial paralysis, unresponsive to topical otic drops and oral antibiotics. Imaging revealed mastoid sclerosis, tegmental and ossicular erosions, and an attico-antral mass which was excised through exploratory tympanomastoidectomy. Final histopath following immunohistochemical corroboration was T-cell lymphoma.Conclusion: Primary malignant lymphoma of the temporal bone may initially present with otalgia and headache unresponsive to conventional medical management. Ominous signs like facial paralysis should heighten the suspicion of malignancy warranting prompt imagingof the temporal bone. Histopathologic evaluation of all mastoidectomy specimens should be mandatory especially in children, and special stains performed as needed. Patients with T cell NHL should undergo chemotherapy and may warrant closer follow up for tumor recurrence and disease progression.
Human ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child Preschool ; X