ENT in the context of global health

• Published in: Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England Vol. 101; no. 2; pp. 93 - 96
• Main Author: Ta, N H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01-02-2019; Royal College of Surgeons
• Subjects: Access to education; Cochlear implants; Communication; Deafness; Developing Countries; Disability; Education; ENT Surgery; Global Health; Health Services Accessibility; Hearing aids; Hearing loss; Hearing Loss - diagnosis; Hearing Loss - etiology; Hearing Loss - therapy; Hearing protection; Humans; LDCs; Low income groups; Medically Underserved Area; Mortality; Open access; Otolaryngology; Otology; Physician's Role; Population; Surgeons; United Kingdom > UK; Nepal; Otolaryngology; Global health; ENT; Hearing loss
• ISSN: 0035-8843; 1478-7083
• DOI: 10.1308/rcsann.2018.0138

Global health is a fashionable term frequently used in the twenty-first century's news that is rarely understood by ear, nose and throat (ENT) professionals. Communicable diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria have been in the headlines of global health for decades. Despite the recent public health concerns about noncommunicable diseases, including ENT disorders, these disorders still receive little attention on the global health stage. Despite the 'benign' nature and a large number of patients affected at a given time, noncommunicable diseases were found to account for 60% of international mortality in 2008. More specifically to ENT, disabling hearing impairment has been found to be the most common disability globally. Therefore, it is now critical for otolaryngologists worldwide to get involved in the overlooked ENT global issues. This article discusses the main challenges faced by the ENT community in the developing world and proposes what can be done to help.