Nasal foreign bodies in the African children

Abstract

Nasal foreign bodies are very common in daily clinical practice. Their simplicity in pathology and diagnosis often gives the wrong impression of little or no risk of complications. A 5-year (1998 - 2002) prospective study of 106 patients with nasal foreign bodies was done to evaluate and present the patterns, possible challenges and com plications or problems in thc management of this condi tion in thc Nigerian Africans. Thc male to female ratio was 1:1.26 (M 47; F 59) and with an average age of 3 years The duration of symptoms ranged from 0 hour to 4 years with 74 (69.8%) presenting within 24 hours and 27 (25.5%) pre senting after 24 hours. The most common nasal foreimi bodies were seeds 34 (32.1%), polyurethanc foams P (11.3%),stones 11(10.4%), plastic 10 (9.4%), beads 6 (5.7%) and erasers 6 (5.7%). Thc objects were found in the right nasal cavity in 63 (59.4%) cases while 43 (40.6%) in thc left nasal cavity. The various clinical presentations were his tory of insertion of foreign bodies 91 (85.8%), 15(14.2%) with no history of insertion, mucopurulent nasal discharge 25 (23.6%), foul nasal odour 10 (9.4%), epistaxis 6 (5.7%), nasal obstruction and mouth breathing 3 (2.8%) and 2 (1.9%) cases respectively. Thc main complications were nasal in fections (23.6%), epistaxis (5.7%), and purulent maxillary sinusitis (1.9%) seen in this study. These are preventable complications if the patients present early to the hospital. The absence of enough E.N.T. specialists however still plagues developing countries like Nigeria. A call is therefore made for more specialists in this area for early detections and care of these cases.