Otomycosis in Basrah - Iraq

The aim of the present study was to identify the causative agents, demographic characters, and presentation of otomycosis. This is a case series study which was carried out in Basrah governorate in the period between [April 2004-March 2005] on patients suspected to have otomycosis. Sterile swabs were used for sampling and direct smear and cultivation techniques were used for identification of fungal genus and species. From 135 patients suspected to have otomycosis, 101 patients [74.8%] were diagnosed to have otomycosis, 44 patients [43.6%] were males and 57 [56.4%] were females. The majority of the studied patients had unilateral disease [83 cases, 82.8%]. Aspergillus was the genus most often isolated, [74 isolates, 62.2% of total positive samples], five species were isolated, the second commonly isolated genus was Candida [30 cases, 25.2%], 3 species were isolated. The main complaints at the time of presentation were itching, followed by otalgia, hard of hearing, otorrhea and tinnitus respectively. The present study showed that Aspergillus spp. is one of the most common causative organisms implicated in the causation of otomycosis, microscopic examination only cannot be taken as evidence of negativity for fungal presence and has to be authenticated with a culture investigation of the specimen

Therapeutic effect of topical applications of trichloroacetic acid, hydrogen peroxide for aphthous ulcers minor

We attempted to evaluate the therapeutic effect of local application of trichloroacetic acid [TCA] and hydrogen peroxide [H[2]O[2] for aphthous ulcers minor[AUM]. Fifty four patients with aphthous ulcers minor [AUM] were enrolled in this study between January 2002 and December 2004. They were divided blindly into3 equal groups, 18 patients managed with local application of 30% trichloroacetic acid [TCA], 18 treated by local 6% hydrogen peroxide [H[2]O[2] and the last group by 0.9% normal saline locally also[control group], all patients were followed up after 3-7 days. Assessments by clinical examination were performed, depending on 3 criteria, tingling and pain, tenderness, and surrounding erythema. Thirty two patients = 42.5% belong to [20-29] years age group, the male to female ratio was 0.6:1. Commonest site of aphthous ulcers minor [AUM] was labial and buccal mucosa [14 patients = 25.9%], 38 patients =70% were non smoker, there were 3 male patients and one female affected when they quitted cigarette smoking, 19 out of 54 patients [35%] treated with the three agents went into remission. Treatment success was observed in 13 out of 18 [72.2%] patients with 30% trichloroacetic acid [TCA], whereas only 5 out of 18[28%] patients treated by local application of 6% hydrogen peroxide [H[2]O[2] went into remission and only one patient improved in control group [5.5%]. Based on our findings, 30% trichloroacetic acid [TCA] was a potential agent with minimal side effects for treatment of AUM

Hydrogen peroxide 3%: Isit beneficial in tonsillectomy?

Tonsillectomy is one of the most frequent operations performed by otolaryngologists world over. Otolaryngologists are in search of a technique of tonsillectomy where the operation time and operative blood loss is less. This study was carries out to evaluate the effects of hydrogen peroxide 3% on tonsillectomy time, blood loss during the surgery as well as on the number of ties used. A prospective randomized trial of 30 patients was carried out, in which tonsillectomy peiformed in the department of otolaryngology, Basrah General Hospital in Iraq, using hydrogen peroxide 3% as haemostatic agent on one side and on the other side no agent was used with gauze pack. Application of hydrogen peroxide 3% in the tonsillar fossae reduces the operation time by 31% the operative blood loss by 32.9% and also reduces the number of ties used by 50% in regard to control side. All these results are statistically significant. Local application of 3% hydrogen peroxide on tonsillar bed after tonsillectomy is beneficial in regard to decrease the procedure time, the volume of blood loss, as well as number of ties used

Hydrogen peroxide 3%: Is it beneficial in tonsillectomy?

The world over, tonsillectomy is one of the operations most frequently performed by otolaryngologists, who are in search of a technique of tonsillectomy where the operation time and operative blood loss is reduced. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of hydrogen peroxide 3% on tonsillectomy times, blood loss during the surgery and on the number of ties used. A pilot study of 30 patients was carried out in the Department of Otolaryngology of Basrah General Hospital, Iraq, in the period from February to July 2006. Tonsillectomy was performed using hydrogen peroxide 3% as a haemostatic agent in Group A [n = 15], while in Group B [n = 15] no agent was used with the gauze pack. The application of hydrogen peroxide 3% in the tonsillar fossae reduced the operation time by 31%, the operative blood loss by 32.9% and also reduced the number of ties used by 50% in Group A. All these results are statistically significant. The local application of 3% hydrogen peroxide on the tonsillar bed after tonsillectomy is beneficial in regard to decreasing the procedure time, the volume of blood loss, and the number of ties used