Road map of an Ear, Nose, and Throat clinic during the 2008 Hajj in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE To present our experience in the development of our own local electronic Makkah Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) - Hajj Database, and provide a road map for the ENT Clinic during Hajj. METHODS This prospective cohort study was conducted between November 28 and December 10, 2008 (1429 Hijri Hajj season). All patients presenting to the ENT Clinic at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were recorded. RESULTS A total of 1047 patients were included. The mean age was 26 +/- 6.4 years. There were 663 males (63.3%), and 384 females (36.7%). Among them, 361 patients (34.5%) were Hajjis, and 686 patients (65.5%) were non-Hajji. The total number of Saudi patients were 716 (68.4%), and non-Saudi's were 331 (31.6%). A total of 78.5% of the patients presented during the 12 hours shift (12 PM-12 AM). Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) including the diagnosis of pharyngitis, viral URTI, and tonsillitis represented 85.2% of the total diagnosis. Twenty-four patients were admitted, with admission conversion rate of 2.3%, and average admission rate is 2 patients per day. Admission in relation to URTI represented 46% of the total admitting diagnosis. In treating these patients, 992 patients (94.7%) received antibiotics as part of, or their main therapy. CONCLUSION The ENT Hajj Clinic was a success in improving patient's care, and to help alleviate pressure from the Emergency Department.