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Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2014; 18(04): 380-382
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382099
Original Research
Thieme Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Epidemiologic Profile of an Otolaryngologic Emergency Service

Luciano Prestes
1   Department of Emergency, IPO, Curitiba, Brazil
,
Rogerio Hamerschmidt
2   Department of ENT, IPO, Curitiba, Brazil
,
Sergio Tenorio
3   Department of Anesthesiology, UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
,
Ana Tereza Moreira
4   Department of Ophthalmology, UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
,
Elizabeth Tambara
5   Department of Surgery, UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

06 March 2014

11 May 2014

Publication Date:
17 June 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction According to current research, the number of patients seen in the emergency room is progressively increasing. There are few studies on the characteristics of ear, nose, and throat diseases treated in the emergency room.

Objectives (1) To establish the epidemiologic profile of patients with these complaints treated at a referral emergency hospital in locoregional city Curitiba, and (2) to evaluate the calls that truly required emergency care.

Methods This is a contemporary cross-study of urgent and emergency referrals to a hospital with otolaryngologic services during the year 2012. Data were collected and epidemiologic characteristics analyzed.

Results We analyzed 1,067 patients: 312 presented in spring, 255 in summer, 253 in autumn, and 247 in winter. We found 17 diseases that were common during the year, with 244 (23.99%) upper respiratory tract infections being the most frequent disease. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of diseases, except that acute otitis media was most common during the summer (p = 0.02); distribution between the sexes was balanced. The predominant age group was adults. We found 9.27% cases were true emergencies.

Conclusion Patients were 20 to 40 years, with upper respiratory tract infection the most incident disease; 9.27% of cases were emergencies.

Keywords

emergency care - epidemiologic studies - ENT diseases
 

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