Discharging ear (otorrhea)‎ : a clinico microbiological study

Abstract EN

This study aimed to assess the causes of otorrhea and causative organisms.

A prospective clinic microbiological study of 153 discharging ears of 148 patients in Basrah General Hospital during 2 years period.

This study showed that most commonly affected age group was below 10 years (44 patients = 30%), the most common type of otorrhea was the purulent (127 ears = 86%), the most common cause of purulent otorrhea was chronic otitis media (77 ears = 61% of purulent discharging ears).

Staph.

aureus was the commonly isolated organism from purulent discharging ears (39 ears).

It is concluded that orthoscopic and otomicroscpic examination plus carefully and accurately taken swabs for cultures are essential for accurate diagnosis and precise treatment in all cases of ear discharge.