Many Bhutanese are said to be suffering from ear diseases such as “Chronic suppurative otitis media” or CSOM and “Cholesteatoma.” However, they are not aware about the diseases and how it can be treated with surgeries. This was found out by a medical team from Thimphu National Referral Hospital while carrying out an ear surgery in Paro recently.
A German Ear Nose Throat (ENT) surgeon also took part in the surgery camp. Chronic suppurative otitis media is a hole in an ear drum resulting in discharge from ear while Cholesteatoma is a destructive and expanding growth consisting of keratinising squamous epithelium in the middle ear. Doctors said among those suffering from otitis media, 10 percent of them are known to have Cholesteatoma which is life threatening ear disease.
“This disease not only affects ear but also causes damages to brain, facial nerves, bones and some time leads to permanent hearing impairment. It also threatens life,” said Dr. Phub Tshering, ENT and Head Neck Surgoen from Thimphu Hospital.
But, Dr. Phub assured that the disease can be cured if it is diagnosed and treated early. Surgeries of Otitis Media can prevent the discharge coming from the ear drum and improve the hearing ability. Cholesteatoma surgery can heal the perforation of the ear drum by removing the disease.
“Most of the people in villages are ignorant. They ignore the discharge. If there is any discharge from ear, it is very important to go to hospital and treat it. There is an opportunity of treating these diseases with surgeries,” added Dr. Phub.
The surgical team has conducted 30 surgeries in Punakha and 25 surgical treatments in Paro over the past eight days.
