Clinical efficacy of budesonide in the treatment of eczematous external otitis.

Sixty patients with mild to moderate forms of eczematous otitis externa were treated with budesonide and placebo in a double-blind controlled study using parallel groups. Each treatment period was preceded by otomicroscopic examination and thorough cleaning of the ear canal. The symptoms and signs were assessed with a score system ranging from 0 (no symptoms/signs) to 3 (severe symptoms/signs). Budesonide treatment was associated with a reduction in severity of all symptoms recorded and a marked improvement in erythema, swelling and discharge. Mechanical cleaning of the ear canal and placebo was not a sufficient treatment for this group of patients.