Disease Specific Health Related Quality of Life in Children with Various Ear Diseases—A Tertiary Care Hospital Based Prospective Study
摘要
Ear diseases in children are a significant health concern, affecting their quality of life and development. Common conditions like otitis media, impacted cerumen, and congenital hearing loss can lead to hearing impairment, speech delays, and learning difficulties. The PedsQL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory) assesses health-related quality of life in children, while the OM-6 (Otitis Media-6) questionnaire evaluates the impact of ear diseases on children’s quality of life, focusing on symptoms and caregiver concerns. Both tools measure health related quality of life and treatment effectiveness. A prospective questionnaire based study done over 1 year period on 300 patients. The study included 300 patients with ear diseases, with impacted cerumen, CSOM, and congenital hearing loss being most prevalent. Patients who visited the hospital early (< 1 week or < 6 months) had better PedsQL and OM-6 scores compared to late presenters. Surgical treatment showed marked improvement in scores compared to conservative management. Diseases like OME, CSOM, and congenital hearing loss had poor PedsQL scores. Timely management and suitable treatment significantly improved health-related quality of life, emphasizing the need for awareness and comprehensive management of ear diseases in children. Ear diseases have a profound effect on children’s well-being, highlighting the importance of prompt treatment and awareness.