Dear Doctor, My six year old son has a severe case of otitis externa.
His ENT doc prescribed TobraDex. This was given to us as eye drops to be
put in his ear. Is this common- to use eye drops in the ear? Thank you
so much for your help!!
Reply: ------------------------------
Tobradex - an ophthalmic antibiotic solution - is commonly used as a topical antibiotic agent in ear infections. It is used both for suppurative otitis media such as in the case of an ear with a hole in the ear drum with an infection causing drainage out of the ear or for otitis externa which is an outer ear infection. In fact there are a number of ophthalmic antibiotic solutions that are also used as topical antibiotics in certain types of ear infections. In some cases such ophthalmic solutions offer certain advantages over traditional otic preparations in that they may have a higher pH and therefore may be less likely to cause burning sensation when introduced into inflamed ears. Additionally, a number of topical antibiotics known to be effective for certain resistant organisms such as pseudomonas are not available in otic preparations, but are available in ophthalmic solutions.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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