DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2021.v09i05.018

Pages: 719-722

Background: The burden caused by the world most recent novel virus, COVID-19 has been a major concern in the health sector, paralyzing the arms of functioning health facilities, public, private and federal. This single stranded RNA virus originated from Middle East, causes severe acute respiratory syndrome. It is reported to be the fastest spreading virus ever recorded worldwide because of its mode of transmission. Nose, nasopharynx and oropharynx are the common port of entry for COVID-19 into human body. Operation at these anatomical sites exposes health personnel to COVID-19 infection especially in facilities where protective equipment is very scarce. Adenotonsillectomy is one of the commonest surgeries performed in children for inflammatory pathologies or neoplasms affecting adenoids and tonsillar. Objectives: This study is to determine the prevalence of adenoid and tonsil cases seen Pre and Post-COVID-19 era, and to compare the number of Pre and Post-COVID-19 adenoid and tonsil specimen received from the Otorhinolaryngology department of our health institution. Methodology: Data on adenoids and tonsillar tissues submitted for histological evaluations were retrieved from the Department of Pathology histology Registers, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Pre-COVID-19 era data collected was from January 2009- December 2019 (eleven years), and Post-COVID-19 was from January 2020- January 2021(one year). Data analysed using IBM Statistical Product and Service Solution version 26.0, and results were represented in both descriptive and tabular forms. Result: Our results show that less than half of average samples received in pre-SAR CoV2 era compared to what was received during the era. Conclusion: There is significant reduction in the number of adenoids and tonsillar operations and hence decreased number of tissues submitted for histological evaluation. However, it is highly commendable that the reduction is barely half despite paucity of personal protective...