Sunil Kumar
Lady Hardinge Medical College, India
Title: Nasal bacterial colonization in cases of idiopathic epistaxis in children
Biography
Biography: Sunil Kumar
Abstract
Epistaxis is one of the most frequent emergencies in the practice of otorhinolaryngology. It has been shown to affect 10% of the entire population. Recurrent idiopathic epistaxis in children is repeated and self-limiting nasal bleeding for which no specific cause is identified. By far the most common cause is trauma, either nose rubbing or digital trauma associated with inflammatory or infective cause. Nasal colonization with Staphylococcus aureus has recently been postulated to play a role in this process. Its colonization causes inflammation, crusting and new vessel formation leading to epistaxis. Trials showing benefit from antiseptic cream also provides supporting evidence for an infective cause for epistaxis. However, there is marked paucity in literature on the role of nasal bacterial colonization in the children. Thus, the present study was aimed to evaluate the role of nasal bacterial colonization in cases of idiopathic epistaxis in pediatric age group: A descriptive, hospital based, observational study in our hospital was performed with total 112 pediatric patients in the age group 4-16 years. Group A (control): 56 patients with no epistaxis; Group B (epistaxis): 56 patients with idiopathic epistaxis. A swab for microbiological evaluation was taken from the anterior nasal cavity of each child. A highly significant association between nasal colonization with pathological Staphylococcus aureus and idiopathic epistaxis was found and was also associated with statistically significant number of crusting and presence of dilated blood vessels on the anterior nasal septum.