Otitis externa: are we giving adequate care?

A series of 26 patients with diagnosis of otitis externa were given treatment consisting of either drops only or manual aural toilet followed by aural drops. The efficacy in terms of resolution of symptoms and clinical signs were compared. In all but the most minor of cases, adequate curative treatment had to consist of complete aural toilet as well as aural drops. It was also shown that without aural toilet and visualization of the tympanum, more serious middle ear pathology could be missed.This study indicates that unless the patient is given the opportunity to have his ears properly cleaned, the general practitioner may not only be giving inadequate and ineffective treatment, but he may also be missing serious ear disease.