Authors : Gopinath M.; Lokeshwari S.; Dr. K. Kannan; Dr. Ruta Shanmugam

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 5 - May

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/2eum8ftn

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/mtj4jert

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26May399

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Abstract : Otitis externa is an inflammatory process in the external auditory canal, mostly due to bacterial infections, and involves signs like pain, discharge, tenderness, and swelling. This study intended to determine the comparative effectiveness of ciprofloxacin alone in relation to the combination of ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone in managing otitis externa. The study involved a prospective observation for six months at the ENT outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Tamil Nadu. Fifty patients with otitis externa were selected and randomly assigned to two groups, which included the use of ciprofloxacin alone or in combination with dexamethasone. Clinical results were measured through the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) on Days 1, 7, and 14. Improvement in all symptoms was noted in both study groups over time. Nevertheless, a better effect was seen in combination therapy, especially in terms of reduction in pain, tenderness, swelling, and discharge after 14 days. Analysis of the data collected suggests that while initial effects were similar, the use of dexamethasone had a more beneficial effect after day seven. In Conclusion it can be said that ciprofloxacin in combination with dexamethasone works more effectively against otitis externa compared to ciprofloxacin alone because of its faster action. The addition of a steroid makes the therapy more effective due to a decrease in inflammation.

Keywords : Otitis Externa, Ciprofloxacin, Dexamethasone, Treatment Efficacy, Visual Analogue Scale.

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