Paediatric otolaryngology--disease profile and characteristics of children in outpatient surgery.

Data were collected from 178 consecutively operated children during a 6-week period at an Oslo hospital in order to study disease profile and routines for referral and treatment in outpatient otorhinolaryngologic surgery. Median time from referral to surgery was less than 4 months. The majority of the children subjected to operation for recurrent acute otitis media, tonsillitis or upper respiratory infections had suffered from the disease for 12 months or less. Obstructive symptoms were registered in 18% of the children. Hospital referrals and controls came mainly from ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialists or paediatricians. Significantly more boys were subjected to surgery. Median age at the time of surgery was 4.2 years, and there was an equal distribution of pharyngeal and middle ear surgery. The numerous combinations of middle ear surgery reflect the non-specific treatment guidelines for otitis media.