To compare the efficacy of treatment between
steroid-
antibiotic and 10%
Ichthammol glycerine packs (IG packs) in acute
otitis externa. A prospective, randomized clinical trial between
steroid-
antibiotic and 10% IG pack which was performed in department of ENT-HNS, Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel from July 2009 to December 2009 on 82 patients.
Pain was assessed by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and
edema was assessed by dividing the external auditory canal in four quadrant giving score of 25% for each on the day of presentation and subsequent visits till tragal tenderness and
edema subsided. Age group among studied patients ranged from 10 to 60 years, with mean of 23.5 years. Out of which 42 (51.2%) were females and 40 (48.8%) were males. Average number of visits in 10% IG pack group (n = 41) was 5.4 days (2-5 visits) while in
steroid-
antibiotic group (n = 41) it was 3.5 days (2-5 visits). There was statistically significant decrease in the number of visits in
steroid group (P < 0.05). Similarly, decrease in
pain score in second visit was statistically significant (P = 0.02) in
steroid-
antibiotic group as compared to 10% IG pack, while the
edema score in second visit while comparing
steroid-
antibiotic group with 10% IG pack was statistically not significant (P = 0.07), whereas it was statistically highly significant on fourth visit (P = 0.001). Since the control of
pain and
edema is more and hence the number of visits is significantly less in
steroid-
antibiotic packing group, so it is worthwhile to use
steroid-
antibiotic pack for effective treatment of acute
otitis externa.