BMJ  2003;327 (22 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7425.0-c

Should ear drops for acute otitis externa contain steroids?

Ear drops containing corticosteroid are more effective for acute otitis externa than those containing acetic acid alone. In a randomised trial on 213 patients in primary care, Van Balen and colleagues (p 1201) analysed the treatment of acute otitis externa with three different types of ear drops. The use of drops containing corticosteroid resulted in a shorter duration of symptoms, lower rate of recurrence, and higher rate of cures than those that contained acetic acid alone. Drops containing acetic acid alone should be no longer used in this group of patients, the authors say.

Credit: OSCAR BURRIEL/SPL

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Relevant Article

Clinical efficacy of three common treatments in acute otitis externa in primary care: randomised controlled trial

Frank A M van Balen, W Martijn Smit, Nicolaas P A Zuithoff, and Theo J M Verheij
BMJ 2003 327: 1201-1205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]