Drops, not pills, best for swimmers ear

　　Antibiotic¹ or antiseptic drops are the best approach to treating swimmer's ear, according to a new research review. And while oral antibiotics² are often prescribed along with ear drops to treat swimmer's ear, this is not necessary, the reviewers say.
Swimmer's ear -- known medically as acute otitis externa -- is an inflammation of the ear canal that may or may not involve infection. A person's ear may feel blocked and touching³ or gently pulling the ear may be painful.
Eardrops have been the mainstay of treatment for swimmer's ear for over 50 years, but studies have shown as many as 40 percent of these patients may also receive a prescription⁴ for oral antibiotics.
To investigate the best approach to treating the condition, Dr. Vivek Kaushik of the Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, UK, and colleagues looked at 19 randomized clinical trials including 3,382 patients in all. Treatments evaluated included astringent⁵ (drying), antiseptic, antibiotic, and steroid ear drops; various combinations of these topical treatments; oral antibiotics; and ear cleaning.
Overall, the researchers found, antibiotic or antiseptic drops, with or without steroids, produced a 55 percent to 100 percent cure rate for swimmer's ear, compared to a 10 percent cure rate for inactive placebo⁶ drops.
Given that all of the topical treatments tested seemed to be equally effective, Kaushik and colleagues say, doctors may decide which therapy to use based on cost, risk of toxicity⁷ to the ear, and other concerns.
Typically, symptoms will last for about six days after a person starts treatment, the researchers say, and doctors usually recommend a patient use the treatment for seven to 10 days. "It may be more useful when prescribing ear drops to instruct patients to use them for at least a week," they add. If symptoms persist, according to the researchers, the patient should keep using the drops for up to seven more days; if symptoms last for more than two weeks, another treatment should be tried.
A prescription for oral antibiotics may be warranted in certain cases, Kaushik notes, for example when the infection has spread to the inner ear or face.
The findings appear in the most recent issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of the Cochrane Collaboration⁸, an international non-profit group that evaluates medical research and makes evidence-based recommendations on treatment.
People who are prone⁹ to developing swimmer's ear can protect their ears when they swim by using ear plugs or a bathing cap, or even placing petroleum¹⁰ jelly-smeared cotton balls over the ear canal, Dr. Richard Rosenfeld, chairman of otolaryngology at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, told the Health Behavior News Service.
Those who get frequent infections can help prevent them by using antibiotic or antiseptic drops after swimming, noted¹¹ Rosenfeld, who was not involved in Kaushik's study. A home-made mix of half white vinegar, half rubbing alcohol can work just as well as store-bought ear drops, according to Rosenfeld.

1 antibiotic   

adj.抗菌的；n.抗生素

参考例句：

• The doctor said that I should take some antibiotic.医生说我应该服些用抗生素。
• Antibiotic can be used against infection.抗菌素可以用来防止感染。

2 antibiotics   

n.（用作复数）抗生素；（用作单数）抗生物质的研究；抗生素，抗菌素( antibiotic的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century 20世纪抗生素的发现
• The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics. 医生给我开了抗生素。

3 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

4 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

5 astringent   

adj.止血的，收缩的，涩的；n.收缩剂，止血剂

参考例句：

• It has an astringent effect.这个有止血的作用。
• Green persimmons are strongly astringent.绿柿子非常涩。

6 placebo   

n.安慰剂；宽慰话

参考例句：

• The placebo has been found to work with a lot of different cases.人们已发现安慰剂能在很多不同的病例中发挥作用。
• The placebo effect refers to all the observable behaviors caused by placebo.安慰剂效应是指由安慰剂所引起的可观察的行为。

7 toxicity   

n.毒性，毒力

参考例句：

• The hoarse grunt or squeal is characteristic of toxicity.嘶哑的哼声和叫声是中毒的特征。
• Dieldrin is related to aldrin,and its toxicity to earthworms is similar.狄氏剂与艾氏剂有关，对蚯蚓的毒性是相似的。

8 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

9 prone   

adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的

参考例句：

• Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
• He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。

10 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。