ENT Disabilities in Candidates for Recruitment.

BACKGROUND

Recruitment in the Army is subject to medical fitness as per laid down standards. A study of the frequency of referral and rejection gives us an understanding as to where to lay stress in the Ear Nose Throat Examination during recruitment medical.

METHOD: A three year analysis of candidates reporting for review of ENT disabilities was carried out from January 1999 to December 2001.

RESULTS

Of the 1156 candidates, 888(76.8%) were found to be fit. The commonest cause for rejection was Wax in ears in 496 cases (43%). 428(86.3%) were found to be fit on review. Chronic suppurative otitis media (21.9%) and tympanosclerosis (21.3%) were the other causes for rejection.

CONCLUSION

The desirable situation is wherein the evaluation by the specialist is in minimal variation with that of the initial recruitment medical examination. Awareness to have ears cleaned for wax before appearing for the examination, provision of better examination ambiance and equipment and a short training capsule will be beneficial to reduce the number of review cases to referral hospitals.