title: Effectiveness of 3 per cent boric acid in 70 per cent alcohol versus 1 per cent clotrimazole solution in otomycosis patients: a randomised, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical effectiveness and adverse events for 3 per cent boric acid in 70 per cent alcohol versus 1 per cent clotrimazole solution in the treatment of otomycosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 120 otomycosis patients were randomly assigned to receive either 1 per cent clotrimazole solution (intervention group) or 3 per cent boric acid in 70 per cent alcohol (control group) at the Khon Kaen Hospital ENT out-patient department. Treatment effectiveness was determined based on the otomicroscopic absence of fungus one week after therapy, following a single application of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 1 week of treatment, there were data for 109 participants, 54 in the clotrimazole group and 55 in the boric acid group. The absolute difference in cure rates between 1 per cent clotrimazole solution and 3 per cent boric acid in 70 per cent alcohol was 17.9 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, 2.3 to 33.5; p = 0.028) and the number needed to treat was 6 (95 per cent confidence interval, 3.0 to 43.4). Adverse events for the two agents were comparable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One per cent clotrimazole solution is more effective than 3 per cent boric acid in 70 per cent alcohol for otomycosis treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Khon Kaen Hospital,Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romsaithong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Technology,Khon Kaen Hospital,Thailand.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomanakan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Khon Kaen Hospital,Thailand.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tangsawad
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Faculty of Medicine,Khon Kaen University,Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thanaviratananich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001888:Boric Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003022:Clotrimazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004424:Ear Canal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007322:Instillation, Drug; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059249:Otomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001888:Boric Acids; D003022:Clotrimazole; C032688:boric acid
keywords: Antifungal Agents; Boric Acids; Clotrimazole; Mycoses; Otitis Externa; Otomycosis