Background: This is a prevalence study of ear diseases and hearing impairment done in a
combined eye and ear set up of Biratnagar Eye Hospital. This study was conducted in the
Sunsari and Morang districts of Nepal. Its aim is to find out the ear disease and hearing
impairment prevalent in the community. Materials and Methods: A total of 2259 people who
visited eye camps were screened for ear diseases. Patients were examined by the eye and
ear assistants under supervision of otolaryngologist. A head mirror, an otoscope, an aural
syringe, kidney trays and light source and a set of tuning forks (512 and 256 Hz) were used
to assess the ear diseases and hearing loss. Results: A total of 1094 patients presented with
ear diseases. Males were more than females [608(55.42%) vs. 486(44.57%)]. Children up
to and below 15 years were 386 (35.28%). The frequency of ear diseases were as follows:
Impacted wax- 319 (29.15%), chronic suppurative otitis media mucosal type - 307(28.06%),
otomycosis - 66 (6.03%), furunculosis/otitis externa - 46 (4.29%), Acute suppurative otitis
media - 46 (4.2%), tubal catarrhal - 34(3.1%), otitis media with effusion - 24 (2.19%),
perichondritis - 21(1.91%), Unsafe otitis media - 14(1.27%), Foreign body in the
ear - 4 (0.36%) cases, Postraumatic perforation of tympanic membrane - 2 (0.18%), deaf
and mute - 12 (1.09%). presbyacusis and other sensorineural hearing loss- 199(18.19%).
The point prevalence of otitis media was 17.3% (391) people. Hearing impairment was
64.99 %(635 out of 977 patients above 5 years). Conclusion: Ear diseases and hearing
impairment are very common in Sunsari and Morang districts of Nepal demanding immediate
treatment.