Prevalence and risk factors for OTITIS MEDIA with Effusion in Preschool Children in Janakpur, Nepal

Janakpur is a city thickly populated and is situated in the Southern Part of Nepal. It lies in the Terai adjacent to India (Bihar)-Nepal- India boarder. OTITIS MEDIA with Effusion (OME) is a condition in which there is fluid in the middle ear but no signs of acute infection. As fluid builds up in the middle ear and Eustachian tube, it places pressure on the tympanic membrane. OTITIS MEDIA with effusion (OME) is a collection of non-infected fluid in the middle ear space. It is also called serous or Secretory OTITIS MEDIA (SOM). This fluid may accumulate in the middle ear as a result of a cold, sore throat or upper respiratory infection. Mainly it is present in the area where there is malnutrition in children and they are not properly cared. Its prevalence is seen in preschool age children and frequently noticed in Janakpur, Nepal. Home remedies include applying a warm compress and inhaling steam, but over-the-counter medicines may also work to open the ear canals and drain the fluid. If these methods don't help, though, the patients should seek medical attention to have the fluid drained. If delayed in treatment, more risk factors may come into notice. The author has tried to find the causes of Effusion and its control in the prevalent area and suggest the concerned authorities for controlling these issues. The preschools of Janakpur were taken as population. The sample size of 150 was taken for the investigation purpose and suitable statistical tools were used for sample analysis to make the findings more reliable.