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This study focused on characterization of common Fusarium strains causing ear rot disease of maize and potentials of controlling them using arbuscular mycorrhiza (Glomus clarum Nicol. & Sch. and G. deserticola Trappe, Bloss & Menge). Maize ear showing rot symptoms were obtained from ten (10) different farms in Osun State, Nigeria using random sampling technique and subjected to fungal isolation. The two dominant and most virulent strains (olowILH1 and olowILH2) were further characterized based on morphological and molecular ITS-amplification methods. Responses of maize varieties PVASYN8F2, T2LCOMP1STRSYN-W-1 and T2LCOMP.4 from different agro-ecological zones to selected Fusarium ear rot pathogens and biocontrol efficacy of mycorrhizal fungi were further assessed on growth, yield, and symptoms observed. Selected ear rot pathogens were identified as Fusarium napiforme, they exhibited varying inhibitory effects on tested maize varieties compare to the control (uninfected plant) which had better growth characteristics. T2LCOMP4 was more susceptible to both fungal strains as compared to the other maize varieties (T2LCOMP1STRSYN-W-1 and T2LCOMP4). It was further observed that treatment of most susceptible maize variety (T2LCOMP4) with both arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in-vivo yielded better suppression of ear rot disease, although Glomus clarum had higher antagonistic/control effect on these pathogens as compared to G. deserticola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a multifocal IgE-mediated type I hypersensitivity reaction involving nasal mucosa characterized by excessive sneezing, watery rhinorrhea, nasal itching, nasal stuffiness, and eyes itching. Tympanometry is a simple, rapid, and objective test that can be easily carried out. The use of tympanometry in clinical setting can improve detection of middle ear effusion and other middle ear abnormalities. AR has been found to be one of the predisposing factors to developing Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) in children., Patients and Methods: A case-control study was used to determine the prevalence of OME among children with AR as cases and those without allergy as controls. The study participants were children aged 4-12 years with clinical diagnosis of AR attending ENT clinics of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, whereas controls were children age 4-12 years without history of AR, ear diseases, or other respiratory system related ailments attending general outpatient clinics in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. An interviewer-administered score for AR (SFAR) questionnaire was filled out for all the participants, those with score of 6 and above were selected as cases. The two groups had complete ENT examination and tympanometry done, findings were recorded, and analyzed using SPSS version 21., Results: The mean age of the cases was 6.8 ± 2.1 years, whereas it was 7.5 ± 2.6 years for the controls. The mean difference was 0.7 and was not statistically significant (t = 2.35, df = 258, P value = 0.20). Type B tympanogram suggesting OME was found in 7.3% of subjects and in 2.8% of controls. Type C tympanogram suggesting negative middle ear pressure was found in 15.5% of subjects and in 4.6% of controls. Type A tympanogram suggesting normal middle ear pressure was found in 75% of subjects and in 90% of controls. Acoustic reflex was found to be absent in 29.6% of subjects and in 15.4% of controls and this found to be statistically significant (χ 2 = 7.77, df = 1, P value = 0.001). The difference between type A, B, and C tympanograms of subjects and that of controls was found to be statistically significant (Type A χ 2 = 14.62, df = 4, P value = 0.01, Type B χ 2 = 14.06, df = 4, P value = 0.01, Type C χ 2 = 17.01, df = 6, P value = 0.01). Type B tympanogram was used as an indicator to suggest OME for the purpose of this study., Conclusion: Participants with AR were found to have more abnormalities of tympanometric parameters and higher prevalence of type B tympanogram suggesting OME than controls., Competing Interests: None

Background/Objective: Deaf persons are equally susceptible to other otologic diseases as the rest of the population; however, there may be increased morbidity among the deaf population. The aim of the study is to determine common otologic problems and their prevalence among the deaf and to offer treatment where appropriate. Materials and Methods: Six hundred and twenty students aged between 5 and 38 years with profound hearing loss were recruited from a special school for the deaf. Hearing level was assessed and full ENT examination including otoscopy was done. Results: 22.4% [139] of the deaf students had otologic diseases, with 69.1% of them having wax impaction and chronic suppurative otitis media and otitis media with effusion accounting for 21.6 and 7.2% respectively. Conclusion: The study showed that wax impaction is a common problem and this can be quite uncomfortable for some of the students. A routine general and otologic screening program targeted at the deaf and deaf-blind is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To study the prevalence of Otolaryngological (ORL) diseases in a tertiary hospital. Methods: Five hundred patients that were first attendee at the ORL clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo University teaching hospital Ile-Ife were randomly selected from the clinic lists. The age, sex, presenting complaints, and the diagnosis were noted. Analysis of the data were done using SPSS version 10.0 Results: The age ranges of ENT clinic attendee were 10 days - 95years with a mean age of 30.5 ± 22.7years. There were 315 males and l85 females with a male to female ratio of 1.7:1. Diseases of the ear was the most common 51.8% (n=259), nasal and paranasal sinuses diseases accounted for 26% (n=130), pharyngeal diseases was found in 10.6% (n=53), laryngeal disease accounted for 3% (n=15). Oral cavity lesions were seen in 1.4%. (n=7) and Head and Neck tumors were found in 7.2% (n=36) these were made up of malignant (n=30) and benign (n=6) tumors. Conclusion: Ear diseases were the most in this work and oral cavity lesions being the least common. The peak age incidence was in the 0-9years. There is a need for manpower development in otological and paediatric otolaryngological surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The presence of a mass in the nose and paranasal sinuses may seem to be a simple problem; however it raises many questions about the differential diagnosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinico-pathological profile of sinonasal masses in our environment This is a retrospective analytical review of all the patients with sinonasal masses that presented to the national ear care center, Kaduna over a six year (2003-2008) period. Their biodata, clinical profile and histological diagnoses were analyzed. Findings: A total of 76 patients were analyzed, age range 5 to 64 yrs with a mean age of 33.3 yr median and modal age of 35.00 (SD = 13.1 ± 1.5). Majority of the patients were in the age groups 21-50 yrs. There were 34 male and 42 female with M: F ratio of 1:1.2. The main presenting symptoms are nasal blockage 97.4% and rhinorrhea 94.7%. It was bilateral in 34 (44.7%), left side in 24(31.6%) and right side in 18(23.7%) patients. The commonest clinical diagnoses were simple nasal polyp 47(61.8%) and antrochoanal polyp 10(13.2%). About 59 (77.6%) were benign, 2 (2.6%) were malignant and 15 (19.7%) were lost to follow up. The commonest histological diagnosis is simple inflammatory nasal polyp in 28 (36.8%) patients and the least was nasal capillary hemangioma 2 (2.6%). About 55(72.4%) patients had surgical treatment. Conclusions: Nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea are the commonest symptoms of presentation, simple inflammatory nasal polyp is still the commonest histological pattern seen in our environment, and surgery is still the best modality of treatment for benign tumor thus the need for advocacy for early recognition and referral to the ENT surgeon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: otolaryngological disorders vary among children due to diverse underlying aetiologies and pathologic processes.This study audits the pattern of paediatric ear, nose and throat diseases seen at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital., Methods: a cross-sectional retrospective review of medical records of children (aged 0 - 17 years) seen between 1 st January 2018 and 31 st December 2020 were retrieved and analysed using IBM SPSS version 25.0. Results were presented as frequencies and percentages for categorical variables and mean and standard deviation for continuous variables., Results: a total of 5,533 paediatric visits were documented over the study period, making up 36.7% of all patients seen. There were 2,516 completed paediatric medical records. Males slightly predominated, accounting for 1,369 (54.5%), mean age was 6.77 years (SD ± 5.10) and ranged 2 weeks to 17 years. Age groups 0-4 years were the most affected. Ear disorders were the commonest disorders found (1637, 65.1%), followed by throat/neck disorders (650, 25.8%) and then nose disorders (229, 9.1%). The top 2 disorders based on regions were as follows: Cerumen Auris (426, 16.9%) and Otitis Externa (252, 10.2%) for ear disorders; Chronic / Allergic rhinosinusitis (107, 4.3%) and foreign body in the nose (72, 2.9%) for nose disorders and Adenotonsillar hypertrophy (544, 21.6%) and speech disorders (23, 0.9%) for throat disorders respectively., Conclusion: among the paediatric group of patients, ear disorders predominated. Cerumen Auris, Adenotonsillar hypertrophy and chronic/allergic rhinosinusitis were the commonest ENT disorders., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright: Datonye Christopher Briggs et al.)

Aim and methods: To investigate the experiences of doctors and nurses in infant hearing loss through an open-ended questionnaire in Lagos, Nigeria. Results: Few respondents detected children with hearing loss within the first 6 mo of life. Parental concern was the most significant lead for doctors. Children suspected of hearing loss were often referred to ENT surgeons before objective hearing evaluation was conducted. Conclusion: Doctors and nurses should routinely seek objective infant hearing assessment for timely detection of permanent hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low and middle-income countries (LMICs) have high prevalence of hearing loss which are mainly due to preventable causes. While urban communities in LMICs are likely to have functional hearing healthcare delivery infrastructure, rural and semi-urban communities may have different reality., Objectives: This study aimed to provide: (i) a snapshot of the burden of ear diseases and (ii) a description of available hearing healthcare resources in a semi-urban Nigerian community., Methods: A cross-sectional study of households selected by multistage random sampling technique. Seventy-four participants: 39 males and 35 females with mean age of 34 years ± 5.24 were recruited and answered a structured questionnaire. In addition, the availability of hearing healthcare services in 15 health centers within the community were determined., Results: All participants reported recent occurrence of ear complaints or gave similar history in a household member. Common complaints were ear discharge, ear pain and hearing loss. Medical intervention was sought from patent medicine stores, hospitals and traditional healers. None of the assessed hospitals within the study site was manned by an ENT surgeon or ENT trained nurse., Conclusion: Despite the heavy burden of ear complaints there is inadequate hearing healthcare delivery in a typical LMIC community. This highlights the need for urgent improvement of hearing healthcare., (© 2021 Adeyemo A et al.)