Özet:

A multidisciplinary approach may be necessary in the diagnosis and management of certain patients; therefore, interdisciplinary consultations have an important place in the medical practice. Diagnosis and management of children with ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders take part in the practices of both otorhinolaryngologists and pediatricians. The aim of this study to investigate the reasons for pediatric ENT consultations, and examine them in relation with the pediatric age groups and the site of the requests. All pediatric consultations requested from the Otorhinolaryngology Department by the Pediatrics Department [outpatient, inpatient, intensive care unit (ICU) and pediatric emergency room (ER)] in 2021 were examined and included in the study. The pediatricians consulted a total of 3774 children in one-year period. The most common reason for consultation was hearing and/or speech evaluation (19.6%). The frequency of consultations for hearing and/or speech evaluation was significantly higher in early childhood (24.6%) (p<0.001) and lower in adolescents (10.7%) (p<0.001). The majority of the children consulted were in early childhood (38%) and middle childhood (28.5%). Most of the consultations were requested for outpatients (71.4%). Hearing and/or speech evaluation (26.6%) was the most common reason for outpatient consultations. Respiratory disorders (25.7%) in inpatients, prolonged intubation in the intensive care unit (47.1%) and foreign body (42.7%) in the emergency department were the most common reason for consultation. Pediatric consultations make up a large volume of work particularly in tertiary and higher health centers. Pediatric otorhinolaryngology units of these centers must be armed with equipment suitable for pediatric examination and surgery as well as an audiovestibular unit laboring audiologists and speech-language therapists.

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