Swimmer's ear treatment guidelines issued
March 28, 2006
DAYTON, Ohio, March 28 (UPI) -- A panel of scientists has issued guidelines providing evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of acute otitis externa, or swimmer's ear.
The panel represented the fields of otolaryngology -- head and neck surgery, pediatrics, family medicine, infectious disease, internal medicine, emergency medicine and medical informatics.
Acute otitis externa, or AOE, affects one in every 100-250 Americans each year. Characterized by inflammation of the external ear canal, AOE is caused by water trapped in the ear canal following swimming, the researchers said. The trapped water leads bacteria that normally inhabit the skin and ear canal to multiply, causing infection and irritation of the ear canal.
Among the recommendations:
-- Antiseptic and antibiotic eardrops are the preferred therapy for most AOE, because they are safe, give prompt relief and do not promote resistant bacteria.
-- Oral antibiotics are not recommended for uncomplicated cases because they have more adverse effects than eardrops and may be less effective.
-- The use of ear candles is not recommended since they have never been shown efficacious, and have dangerous side effects.
The guidelines appear in the April edition of the journal of the Dayton, Ohio-based, American Osteopathic College of Otolaryngology.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
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