Objective: To determine the clinical features, subclinical and to evalute the treatment results otitis externa.
Material and method: 51 patients with 53 ears were diagnosed otitis externa at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Methods: Cross sectional and propective studies.
Results: Percentage of female (52.9%), male (47.1%). The most common age group is >15 – 30 years old (41.2%). Patients have antecedent with chronic otitis media is about 15.7%. 37.3% patients had used antibiotics, 21.6% had used corticosteroid. Acute otitis externa accounted for 43.4%, chronic stage accounted for 56.6%. Itching of the ear (67.9%), earache (41.9%), fullness (22.6%). External ear canal condition: earwax (58.5%), discharge (35.8%). 13.2% of patients has eardrum perforation. Isolation of microorganisms: fungi (60.8%), bacteria (29.4%), both fungi and bacteria (9.8%). Fungal results: Aspergillus (58.1%), Candida (16.1%), non-fungal culture (16.1%). Results of bacterial identification: S. aureus (80%), P. aeruginosa (15%). In acute otitis externa, the highest rate is bacterial infection (65.3%), chronic otitis externa, the highest rate is fungi (96.7%). In acute otitis media, the pain in the ear when pushed and of the pinna when pulled is 60.9%. Itching is the most symptom in infection by fungi (56.6%), ear pain commonly associated with bacterial infection (24.5%), fullness is most commonly caused by fungi (13.2%). Bacteria S. aureus in otitis externa are most sensitive to vancomycin(100%), gentamicin (76.5%), ciprofloxacin (64.7%). The proportion of patients responding to treatment is 90.6%. In external ear inflammation, the mean time at end of symptom is 6.2 ± 2.79 days.
Conclusions: Otitis externa is a common disease, encountered at many ages and treatment has a good result.
Key words: otitis externa
Clinical features and outcome of acute otitis media in early infancy
