Comparison of efficacy of topical clotrimazole with 3 % salicylic acid in fungal infections of external auditory canal.

Ashfaq Ahmed Malik, Safdar Nawaz Malik, Muhammad Azeem Aslam, Danyal Rasheed

Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of topical Clotrimazole with 3 % salicylic acid in Otomycosis.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
One hundred patients were selected through non-probability convenience sampling technique. They were divided in two groups with 50 patients in each group; A & B. Patients in group A were treated by topical Clotrimazole in affected ear three times a day for 2 weeks while patients in group B were treated by topical 3% Salicylic acid in affected ear three times a day for 2 weeks. Comparison of both the drugs was done by evaluating the variables; Ear itching, ear blockade and otoscopic examination to assess the fungal debris at the end of two weeks of treatment.
RESULTS
There were 50 patients in group A and group B respectively. Among them, 65 % were male (n = 65) and 35 % were females (n = 35) in both groups. Mean age was 35 years in group A while it was 38 in group B. Standard deviation for age was 20.19 and 18.36 for group A and B respectively. In our study, after 1 week of treatment there was no statistically significant difference among itching control between the two groups (P value = .654) and that remained the same after second week of treatment (P value = .711). There was a statistically significant difference in relief from ear blockade between the two groups. It was observed that even after the first week of treatment the p value was .001, which was maintained at the second week also. The same statically significant difference was observed in case of otoscopic findings of ear discharge or fungal debris shown by the p value of .002 in both the weeks.
CONCLUSION
Topical 3% Salicylic acid is a better remedy in terms of alleviating symptoms of otomycosis.

Key words: Otomycosis, Clotrimazole, 3% Salicylic acid.