Table 2.

Baseline clinical and risk behavioural characteristics of the study participants (N=255)

Patient characteristics	Frequency (N) and percentage (%)/median (IQR) (%)
Median duration of ear infection (days)	210 (21–1095)
Nasal discharge/blockage
Yes	85 (33.3)
No	170 (66.7)
Recurrent URTI
Yes	72 (28.2)
No	183 (71.8)
Use of hearing aid
Yes	2 (0.8)
No	253 (99.2)
Earphone use
Yes	41 (16.1)
No	214 (83.9)
Swimming
Yes	8 (3.1)
No	247 (96.9)
Cotton bud use
Yes	112 (43.9)
No	143 (56.1)
Sharp object use
Yes	60 (23.5)
No	195 (76.5)
Ear cleaning habit
Yes	119 (46.7)
No	136 (53.3)
Cerumen impaction
Yes	45 (17.6)
No	210 (82.4)

URTI, upper respiratory tract infection.