Elahi M M, Elahi F, Elahi A, Elahi S B
Department of Otolaryngology, McGill University Teaching Hospitals, Montreal, Quebec.
J Otolaryngol. 1998 Dec;27(6):348-53.
The present study was designed to generate population-based data on the prevalence and causes of hearing loss in rural Pakistani children. A community screening programme was utilized to identify and evaluate the hearing impaired.
The study was performed in conjunction with the Ministry of Population Welfare in Sialkot District, Punjab Province. School-aged children between the ages of 5 and 15 years were screened and examined for hearing impairment according to World Health Organization (WHO) protocols. Case-control analysis of audiometric, physical examination, and risk factors for hearing loss were performed, followed by chi-square analyses.
A total of 607 children comprised the study population, with an overall point prevalence of hearing impairment of 7.9%. Fifty percent of all hearing loss was conductive in nature, amenable to either medical or surgical therapy. The risk factors most associated with conductive hearing loss were otorrhea and multiple ear infections greater than 5. In cases of severe hearing loss, 70% were the result of consanguinous marriages. Almost no cases of hearing loss were attributable to measles, mumps, rubella, and the TORCH infections.
This study has generated some badly needed population-based data on the magnitude of the problem of hearing loss in rural Pakistan. It is hoped that the results of this work will stress the importance of hearing health in Pakistan and to encourage other professionals to pursue similar projects.
本研究旨在获取有关巴基斯坦农村儿童听力损失患病率及病因的基于人群的数据。采用社区筛查项目来识别和评估听力受损者。
本研究与旁遮普省锡亚尔科特地区的人口福利部联合开展。按照世界卫生组织（WHO）的方案，对5至15岁的学龄儿童进行听力损失筛查和检查。对听力测定、体格检查及听力损失风险因素进行病例对照分析，随后进行卡方分析。
共有607名儿童纳入研究人群，听力损失的总体点患病率为7.9%。所有听力损失中50%为传导性，可通过药物或手术治疗。与传导性听力损失最相关的风险因素是耳漏和5次以上的耳部感染。在重度听力损失病例中，70%是近亲结婚的结果。几乎没有听力损失病例可归因于麻疹、腮腺炎、风疹及TORCH感染。
本研究生成了一些巴基斯坦农村地区亟需的有关听力损失问题严重程度的基于人群的数据。希望这项工作的结果将强调巴基斯坦听力健康的重要性，并鼓励其他专业人员开展类似项目。
