Yousif Ebrahim Chalabi, Sarwat Tawfeq San-Ahmed
1 College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, 2 Sulaimani teaching hospital-Kurdistan Region - Iraq
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Otomycosis is not uncommon clinical problem requiring a long term treatment and
has a recurrence tendency. Meticulous cleansing especially of anterior metal recess is the treatment
mainstay.
OBJECTIVES; to determine the clinical presentation and predisposing factors, compare the efficacy of aural
toileting procedures and to assess the syringing role as a safe effective procedure for deep meatal recess
debris removal.
METHOD: A randomized prospective comparative study conducted on 91 patients (99 ears) in ENT
consultation clinic- Sulaimani Teaching Hospital from April 2007 – November 2008. Patients were divided
into two groups :group A underwent ear syringing and group B underwent dry suction cleansing. Data entry
and analysis by software version 15 (2008) carried out (STATGRAPHICS)
RESULTS: presenting symptoms were otalgia (94.5%), ear fullness (74.72%), itching (58.24%), hearing
impairment (40.65%), otorrhea (20.87%) and headache (14.82%). Predisposing factors were ear moisture
(94.5%), self cleansing habit (62.63%), ototopical agent overuse (36.26%) and dermatophytosis (19.78%).
Dry cleaning showed complete debris removal in 31(63.26%) ears and incomplete removal in 18 (36.73%)
ears while syringing showed complete removal in 38 (76%) ears and incomplete removal in 12 (24%) ears.
Dry cleaning adverse effect was 37.37% compared to 12.12% in wet group.
CONCLUSIONS; There was insignificant static differences (Chi-Squared p=0.3411) between the two
regimens and both can be used for treatment. However, clinically gentle ear syringing is less time consuming,
Less complicated and more meticulous in deep recess cleaning.
Keywords : Otomycosis; Ear syringing, dry suction cleansing, anterior metal recess toilet (AMR).
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