Relative humidity of the external auditory canal in normal and abnormal ears, and its pathogenic effect

Gray, R. F.; Sharma, Ayushree; Vowler, SL

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2273.2004.00950.x

Cited by 30 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Hajjartabar reported that 32.21% of patients with otitis externa were women ( 18 ). Although women tend to be more health-conscious, most of the women in our study were housekeepers, which may have contributed to the condition as relative humidity can affect ear conditions, as reported previously in other studies on otitis in general ( 9 , 11 , 19 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

Bacterial Otitis Externa in Patients Attending an ENT Clinic in Babol, North of Iran

Kiakojuri

Omran

Jalili

et al. 2016

Jundishapur J Microbiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundAcute otitis externa, an inflammatory condition of the external auditory canal, is a common clinical problem in general medicine.ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the etiology of otitis externa in patients from the Mazandaran province, north of Iran, which has a humid climate, as humidity can affect the prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms.Patients and MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 116 patients with otitis externa. Two sets of samples were collected from their ears; one set was used for slide preparations, and the other for microbial culturing. After culturing, the microorganisms were identified by conventional methods.ResultsPatients between 35 and 44 years of age were most frequently affected (25.00%) by otitis externa (average age, 43.87 ± 18.08 years). Moreover, women (54.31%) were more frequently affected than men (45.69%). Upon direct investigation, Gram-positive bacilli were the most commonly identified microorganisms (22.41%). Furthermore, Bacillus spp. and coagulase-negative staphylococci (22.41% and 19.83%, respectively), were the organisms most frequently identified from cultures of otitis externa samples.ConclusionsDirect examination and culture showed that a mixed infection of fungi and bacteria is the most common cause of otitis externa. The present study revealed that Bacilli spp. were the most abundant bacteria isolated from patients with otitis externa. Thus, it is recommended that both organisms should be considered as etiologic agents in protocols for treatment of otitis externa.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

Bacterial Otitis Externa in Patients Attending an ENT Clinic in Babol, North of Iran

Kiakojuri

Omran

Jalili

et al. 2016

Jundishapur J Microbiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The use of an ointment instead of drops in the treatment of otitis externa can be seen from two points of view. On the one hand, the occlusive effect of an ointment may raise the humidity in the affected ear [15]. On the other hand, fewer hypersensitivity reactions are to be expected because no preservatives, which may cause allergic reactions, are required for water-free ointments, whereas eardrops are often preserved.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effective Treatment of Acute Otitis Externa: a Comparison of Steroid Antibiotic Versus 10% Ichthammol Glycerine Pack

Shrestha

Amatya

et al. 2010

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

“…On the one hand, the occlusive effect of an ointment may raise the humidity [24] in the affected ear. On the other hand, fewer hypersensitivity reactions are to be expected because no preservatives, which may cause allergic reactions, are required for water-free ointments, whereas eardrops are often preserved.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of steroid antibiotic pack and 10% ichthammol glycerine pack in relieving pain of acute otitis externa in children

Adhikari

Bhatta

Bhandari

et al. 2011

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Relative humidity of the external auditory canal in normal and abnormal ears, and its pathogenic effect

Abstract: The raised relative humidity in the external canal may explain the predisposition of certain abnormal ears to chronic discharge and infection. If the humidity of the canal could be brought down to a normal level, this could offer a new therapeutic treatment.

Cited by 30 publications

References 20 publications

Bacterial Otitis Externa in Patients Attending an ENT Clinic in Babol, North of Iran

Bacterial Otitis Externa in Patients Attending an ENT Clinic in Babol, North of Iran

Effective Treatment of Acute Otitis Externa: a Comparison of Steroid Antibiotic Versus 10% Ichthammol Glycerine Pack

Comparison of steroid antibiotic pack and 10% ichthammol glycerine pack in relieving pain of acute otitis externa in children

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About