title: Therapeutic effect of Castellani's paint in patients with an itchy ear canal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of Castellani's paint on symptomatic relief and skin flora in patients with an itchy external ear canal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjective pruritus scores, and erythema and desquamation scores, were noted in 61 patients with an itchy external ear canal. External ear canal skin swabs were taken for bacterial and fungal cultures. Patients were then randomly divided into three groups: either Castellani's paint (group one) or steroid ear drops (group two) were instilled, or non-impacted cerumen was removed (group three). Patients were re-assessed at one month after the initial visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, subjective pruritus scores were significantly lower in all groups, erythema scores were significantly decreased in group one, and desquamation scores were significantly reduced in groups one and two, when compared with pre-treatment scores. Reproduction density of bacteria including normal flora was decreased in group one. However, the types of bacteria that constitute the normal flora of the external ear canal were unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Castellani's paint can be administered safely, effectively and easily, without affecting the type of external ear canal skin bacteria, in patients with an itchy external ear canal.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery,Baskent University,Ankara,Turkey.
authors: S Turkoglu
authors: ST
authors: Babakurban
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Faculty of Medicine,Baskent University,Konya,Turkey.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Topal
authors: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery,Baskent University,Ankara,Turkey.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Aydin
authors: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery,Baskent University,Ankara,Turkey.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Hizal
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology,Faculty of Medicine,Baskent University,Ankara,Turkey.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Copur
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology,Faculty of Medicine,Baskent University,Ankara,Turkey.
authors: M Demirbilek
authors: MD
authors: Ekici
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002571:Cerumen; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000982:Antipruritics; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D013256:Steroids; C006898:carbol-fuchsin solution
keywords: Castellani's Paint; External Auditory Canal; Itchy Ear; Pruritus