The incidence of ear diseases in the Navajo Indians.

The incidence of many ear diseases in the Navajo Indians is different from the rest of the United States. Common problems are congenital aural atresia, ear tick infestation of the external auditory canal, acute and chronic suppurative otitis media, and cleft uvulae. Diseases that are unusual include presbycusis and otosclerosis. It is hoped that these variations in disease incidence will serve as focal points for further investigations as to etiology, prevention and treatment.