Acute otitis media complicating upper respiratory tract infection: Knowledge and treatment outcomes in health professionals

Background: Upper respiratory tract infections (UTRIs), which may be complicated by acute otitis media (AOM), account for a large number of visits to the primary physician especially in the developed world.Materials and Methods: This study aims to determine the knowledge and treatment outcomes of UTRIs complicated by AOM in health professionals at the Jos University Teaching Hospital.Results: One hundred and forty.one participants aged 25-59 years with a mean age of 42 years (standard deviation (SD= }12.5) }12.5) were studied, constituting 94 males and 47 females giving a male to female ratio of 2:1. One hundred and twenty.five (88.7%) participants had experienced an UTRI within the last year of the study of which 37 (26.2%) had spread to the ears. Four (3.2%) participants presented to the otolaryngologist with AOM. None presented to the primary care physician. Thirty.seven (36%) participants used drug combinations, while 66 (64%) used single drug regimens. Eighty.four (81.6%) participants used variousantibiotics with seven (6.8%) using a bacteriostatic and bactericidal antibiotic in combination. Four (3.2%) participants obtained prescriptions from the otolaryngologist, 99 (79.2%) got their medications over-the-counter, while 22 (17.6%) had spontaneous resolution of symptoms without the use of medications. All participants had complete resolution of symptoms following treatment.Conclusion: Education of health professionals on the otologic complications of UTRIs is vital to prevent debilitating sequelae