@bahria.edu.pk
Senior Professor and Head of department, Department of Oto-rhino-laryngology Head & Neck Surgery
Bahria University
Working as Senior Professor and Head of department, Department of Oto-rhino-laryngology Head & Neck Surgery at Bahria University Medical & Dental College, Karachi
MBBS
DLO
FCPS
Head & Neck Oncology
Rhinology
Thyroid Surgery
General ENT
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
Scholar i10-index
Shanila Feroz, Kausar Mahmood, Iqbal Hussain Udaipurwala, Syeda Zain, Mahveen Iqbal, and Muhammad Abdul Azeem
Army Medical College
Objective: To assess audiometry investigations in patients having complaint of tinnitus, vertigo or hearing impairment after recovery from COVID-19 disease, having no external or middle ear diseases.
 Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
 Place and Duration of Study: United Medical and Dental College, Creek General hospital, Korangi, Karachi Pakistan, from March to May 2021.
 Methodology: A total of 60 patients were included in this study who had recovered from the primary COVID-19 infection and reported with the complaints of tinnitus, vertigo and hearing loss. Pure tone audiogram was assessed for sensorineural deafness, its severity and frequencies affected. Pearson Chi square test was used to see the relation of symptoms with severity of hearing loss.
 Results: There were 42 (70%) males and 18 (30%) female patients with age range from 18-50 years with mean age of 28.4 ± 8.1 years. Tinnitus was the most common complaint (83.3%) followed by hearing loss (28.3%) and vertigo (23.3%) patients. None of the patients with complaint of hearing loss had normal pure tone audiogram in either right or left ear (p=0.000). Patients with all the three complaints had more hearing impairment where majority had moderate or severe hearing loss (p=0.000). All patients with isolated complaint of vertigo (9 patients) had normal audiogram in both ears (p=0.000).
 Conclusion: Auditory and vestibular system involvement in reasonably common in COVID-19 patients. Tinnitus is the most frequent symptom and it should be investigated with full audiological investigations.
Kausar Mahmood, Shanila Feroz, Iqbal Hussain Udaipurwala, Aaqil Anwar, Owais Khan Tareen, and Zaib Un Nisa
Army Medical College
Objective: To find out the occurrence and psychosocial risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorder in COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive patients presented to ENT and neurology clinics of a tertiary care hospital.
 Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
 Place and Duration of Study: Creek General Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from Sep to Dec 2020.
 Methodology: Total 60 patients with positive COVID-19 PCR test were included. After taking written and informed consent, they were evaluated using a semi-structured questionnaire. Questionnaire comprises of four main parts; first part includes demographic data, second part includes information about the course of COVID-19 in patient and other members of family, third part comprised of reasons of anxiety during COVID-19 and fourth part consist of Impact of Event Scale-revised (IES-R). Data was entered and analyzed through SPSS-23.
 Results: Out of total 60 patients, 36 (60%) had post COVID stress disorder. Females were affected more than the males (63% vs. 57%), above 50 years of age were affected more than below 50 years of age (81% vs 52%), singles were affected more than married (72% vs 38%) and lower socio-economic status were affected more than higher (65% vs 50%).
 Conclusion: PTSD was observed as long-term psychiatric problem leading to significant morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19 infection.