Objectives. Otomycosis is a common ENT disease frequenting the tropics. Its recurrent nature poses a great challenge to the treating physician. In spite of a number of antifungals in the market, the frequent nature of this disease warrants repeated use of these drugs, contributing to drug resistance and financial burden on the rural population. Our primary aims were to evaluate the effectiveness of povidone iodine in the treatment of otomycosis and to identify the most common fungal isolate in our population. Study Design and Setting. A single blinded prospective longitudinal study was done over a period of 12 months in a tertiary referral center. 34 patients in the age group 15–70 years clinically diagnosed with otomycosis were included in this study. These individuals were divided into two groups selected randomly. One arm received 7.5% povidone iodine otic drops and the other 1% Clotrimazole and lignocaine drops. Evaluation was based on resolution of symptoms and signs after treatment. Result. Both arms showed improvements which were comparable thus suggesting the role of povidone iodine in the management of otomycosis. Conclusion. Povidone iodine is an effective antifungal in the treatment of otomycosis. 1. Introduction Fungal otitis externa (otomycosis) is a common disease throughout the world, with frequency varying in different geographic zones. It is prevalent in the tropics [1] and is sometimes associated with complications, involving the middle ear [2]. It has been an entity which has perplexed many otologists because of its recurrent nature. Since its description about 100 years ago by Andral and Cavarret in 1843 and by Mayer in 1844 [3], many attempts have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. The disease is seen worldwide and is estimated to constitute approximately 5–25% of the total cases of otitis externa [4]. In a routine otolaryngology clinic, its prevalence ranges from about 9 percent to about 30.4 percent in individuals presenting with otitis externa [5]. It was believed that fungi were secondary invaders in external canal infections accounting for one third of the external otitis cases, and the remaining being attributed to gram negative-Bacilli (Syverton et al. [6]) [3]. Traditionally, the treatment of otomycosis revolved around good personal hygiene and avoidance of self-cleaning. But the management varied as time progressed which ranged from copious lavage to insertion of metacresylacetate wick, boric acid, and sulphathiazole ointment and instillation of topical ketoconazole, cresylate otic drops, and
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