Efficacy of Garlic oil in Treatment of Active Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

Abstract

This is a double-blind prospective study done in Najaf, during 1st of February to the 31st of October 2005. Fourty- eight patients with active chronic suppurative otitis media were included in this study, full history ,otological examination, ear swab for culture were done as well as pure tone audiometry performed before and 2 weeks after treatment. All the studied patients treated systemically by appropriate dose of amoxicillin. The commonest isolated organism was staphylococcus aureus (25%), followed by pseudomonas aeroginosa and streptococcus pneumoniae (18.7%) for each. Garlic oil ear drops, neomycine dexamethason (neodexone) drops and normal saline 9% were used as local therapy (ear drops) randomly for the three equally divided groups of patients. The use of Garlic oil ear drops associated with 81% complete improvement compared with 69% improvement by neomycin –dexamethason drops and only 25% for normal saline drops, the interesting fact that improvement by the use of Garlic oil ear drops occurred earlier than the use of neomycin – dexamethason and normal saline ear drops. No complication was detected as a result of treatment by any of the above treatment.