Low dose of oral corticosteroids in the treatment of painful acute otitis externa (swimmer's ear)

Inclusion Criteria16

• Patients diagnosed by their General Practitioner as having acute otitis externa and:
• a) Has ear pain where VAS is at least 2.5 cm of maximum 10 cm (anchored as “moderate pain”).
• b) Will be staying in Australia at least 10 days (not leaving the country within a few days).
• c) Age at least 16 years.
• d) Not being pregnant.
• e) Seems to be cognitively intact.
• f) Speak English well enough to understand instructions and consent form.
• g) Has no large visual impairment that would preclude completion of the patient’s diary and questionnaire.
• h) Does not have Downs syndrome.
• i) Does not have obvious craniofacial abnormalities.
• j) Does not have diabetes mellitus.
• k) Does not have known immunodeficiency (HIV, Leukemia, etc).
• l) Is not taking immunosuppressant drugs or oral corticosteroids.
• m) Does not have known rupture of the tympanic membrane.
• n) Does not have grommet (tympanostomy tube).
• o) Does not have signs of systemic sepsis (body temperature >38.5 degrees), invasive fungal disease or perichondritis of the pinna.