| dc.description.abstract | Background. Acute Otitis Media (AOM) is one of the most common middle ear
infections across age groups and is a significant cause of hearing impairment.
Although it is more prevalent in children, AOM also occurs in adults and may lead
to complications if not properly managed. Identifying the characteristics of AOM
patients is essential for planning healthcare services, early detection, and
prevention of complications. Objective. This study aimed to describe the
characteristics of patients diagnosed with AOM at Prof. Dr. Chairuddin P. Lubis
Hospital Medan during the 2022–2024 period. Methods. This was a descriptive
observational study with a cross-sectional design. The sample included all patients
diagnosed with AOM based on medical records and who met the inclusion and
exclusion criteria using a total sampling technique. Variables assessed included
age, sex, chief complaint, affected ear, AOM stage, history of upper respiratory tract
infection (URTI), allergic rhinitis, nasal/nasopharyngeal diseases, and
complications. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 30.0 for Windows.
Results and Discussion. Among the 100 patients, most were aged 25–64 years
(46%) and female (58%). The most common chief complaint was otorrhea (59%).
AOM was predominantly unilateral (84%), and perforation was the most frequent
stage (63%). A history of URTI was found in 27% of patients, allergic rhinitis in
3%, and nasal/nasopharyngeal diseases in 25%. No complications were identified.
Conclusion. AOM patients at Prof. Dr. Chairuddin P. Lubis Hospital Medan were
predominantly adult females, with otorrhea and the perforation stage being the
most common findings. Risk factors such as URTI, allergic rhinitis, and
nasal/nasopharyngeal diseases were found in a minority of patients, and no
complications were observed during the study period. | en_US |
