RESUMEN
To determine the efficacy of tincture mertheolate in otomycosis. An experimental study. Department of ENT Aliama Iqbal Medical College/ Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. From Dec. 2007 to April 2008. A total of 60 patients of symptomatic otomycosis were investigated prospectively. Aural swabs were collected on first, 7[th] and 14[th] day and examined, by direct microscopy of external auditory canal and culture for fungi. Of these 60 patients found to be having pure fungal infection were taken up for mycological and therapeutic study. Fungi belonging to Aspergiilus were isolated in 57 [95%] patients of which Aspergillus niger was the commonest isolated in 34[56.6%] patients followed by Aspergillus flavus in 21[35%] and Aspergillus fumigates in 2[3.33]. Candida species in 2 [3.3%] and Mucor in 1 [1.6%] of patients. The patients were of all age groups but majority were between 21 and 30 years and the male to female ratio was equal. No patient had fungal infection elsewhere in the body. The patients were called for regular follow-up for three weeks. In 30 cases tincture mertheolate was applied as topical antifungal agent after cleaning the external auditory canal, in 17 patient's clotrimazole and in rest of the 13 patients miconazole was used. On 7[th] day, only 8 [13.3%] patients grew fungi in culture. They became symptom free on 14[th] day and no fungal material could be seen on otoscopy, direct microscopy or culture. Tincture mertheolate was found to be most effective in these patients