ABSTRACT
The accessibility of the anatomical areas involved with disease often allows topical agents to be used more than is usual in most other specialties. A large number of different organisms are involved in infections of the ear. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are often the cause of otitis media and are implicated in infections of the external ear and otitis externa.Pseudomonas and Gram-negative rods are often found in otitis externa. There are many drug preparations used in the treatment of ENT disorders. Broad-spectrum penicillin such as amoxicillin, especially when combined with clavulanic acid, is often the drug of choice. Most topical drugs used in the nose aim to improve nasal airflow and often relieve rhinorrhoea. Long-term use of these drugs can cause rhinitis medicamentosa; therefore their application should be limited to short courses of 7–10 days. The mainstay of the treatment of rhinitis is topical steroid therapy.
