A Questionnaire On Parental Quality Of Life And Recurrent Ent Infections In Children

Abstract

Background: Recurrent ear, nose, and throat (ENT) infections are highly prevalent in early childhood and often lead to repeated doctor’s visits, medication use, and school absenteeism. While the clinical burden is well documented, the broader psychosocial and economic impacts on parents remain underexplored. Objective: To assess the impact of recurrent ENT infections in children on various domains of parental quality of life (QoL), including emotional well-being, family life, financial burden, and social functioning.

Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study included 119 parents of children aged 0–7 years with recurrent ENT infections at a tertiary care centre. Data were collected using a structured, pre-validated questionnaire assessing the emotional, family, financial, and social impacts on a 5-point Likert scale. Demographic and clinical variables were also documented.

Results: Most respondents were mothers (60.5%) with a mean age of 34.5 ± 5.8 years. Children aged 1–5 years accounted for 55.5% of cases. A significant proportion of children had > 4 ENT episodes in the previous year. Emotional domains such as worry (3.7±1.0), stress (3.5±1.1), and sleep disturbance (3.3±1.0) had the highest. Family life was impacted by restricted leisure (3.2±1.1) and disruption of routine (3.5±1.0). Financial strain was notable due to out-of-pocket expenses (3.7 ± 1.1). Despite these challenges, satisfaction with treatment remained high (4.0±0.9). The overall QoL impact was moderate (3.6±1.0).

Conclusion: Recurrent ENT infections in children significantly affect parental QoL across the emotional, financial, and family domains. These findings highlight the need for holistic management strategies that extend support to the caregivers of patients.