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Therapeutic effect of Castellani's paint in patients with an itchy ear canal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2016

S Turkoglu Babakurban ,
O Topal ,
E Aydin ,
E Hizal ,
S Copur  and
M Demirbilek Ekici
S Turkoglu Babakurban*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
O Topal
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Konya, Turkey
E Aydin
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
E Hizal
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
S Copur
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
M Demirbilek Ekici
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Seda Turkoglu Babakurban, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, M. Fevzi Cakmak Caddesi, 5. Sokak, No: 48, 06490 Bahcelievler-Ankara, Turkey Fax: +90 312 215 75 97 E-mail: turkoglu_seda@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Objective:

To examine the effects of Castellani's paint on symptomatic relief and skin flora in patients with an itchy external ear canal.

Methods:

Subjective pruritus scores, and erythema and desquamation scores, were noted in 61 patients with an itchy external ear canal. External ear canal skin swabs were taken for bacterial and fungal cultures. Patients were then randomly divided into three groups: either Castellani's paint (group one) or steroid ear drops (group two) were instilled, or non-impacted cerumen was removed (group three). Patients were re-assessed at one month after the initial visit.

Results:

After treatment, subjective pruritus scores were significantly lower in all groups, erythema scores were significantly decreased in group one, and desquamation scores were significantly reduced in groups one and two, when compared with pre-treatment scores. Reproduction density of bacteria including normal flora was decreased in group one. However, the types of bacteria that constitute the normal flora of the external ear canal were unchanged.

Conclusion:

Castellani's paint can be administered safely, effectively and easily, without affecting the type of external ear canal skin bacteria, in patients with an itchy external ear canal.

Keywords

PruritusExternal Auditory CanalItchy EarCastellani's Paint
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 130 , Issue 10 , October 2016 , pp. 934 - 938
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2016 

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Footnotes

Presented orally at the 37th Turkish National Congress of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, 28 October – 1 November 2015, Antalya, Turkey.

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