Determinants of non-healing ear discharge in chronic suppurative otitis media in a developing country

The major burden of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is the embarrassing ear discharge which may last for few months to many years or even a lifetime with increasing risks of complications. We conducted this study to determine the risk factors for protracted non-healing ear discharge among CSOM patients. We carried out a retrospective analysis of non-cholesteatomatous CSOM patients treated in a tertiary hospital in a developing country. Comparison was made between 128 patients with ear discharge persisting beyond 24 months and 58 patients whose otorrhoea resolved within 6 months in terms of socio-demographic and other potential risk factors. Major risk factors identified by logistic regression analysis were rural residence, multidrug-resistant bacteria, and bilateral CSOM (P = <0.001, 0.001, and 0.008, respectively). Others were onset of ear discharge before the age of 10 years, diabetes mellitus, persistent rhinorrhoea, home >10 miles away from hospital, and >7 persons in a family (P = 0.012, 0.041, 0.013, 0.010, and 0.043, respectively). Age, sex, nasal allergy, and self-medication were not significant risk factors for non-healing ear discharge. Protracted non-healing ear discharge still remains a prominent feature of CSOM in our experience. Rural residence, multidrug resistance, bilateral CSOM, and long distance to health facilities are prime risk factors. Measures to address these risk factors to bring about a decline in the number of non-healing ear discharge among CSOM patients, especially in our rural communities, are urgently needed.