242A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL COMPARING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STEROID-ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE OTITIS EXTERNAAcute otitis externa (AOE), a common outpatient condition, is characterized by pain, edema, and inflammation of the external auditory canal, often caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of steroid-antibiotic packs and 10% Ichthammol glycerin (IG) packs in alleviating pain and edema associated with AOE. A total of 41 patients were included, randomized into two treatment groups: 10% IG packs and steroidantibiotic packs (Betnovate-N: betamethasone valerate and neomycin). Pain levels were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and edema was scored based on canal involvement percentages. Results demonstrated that the steroid-antibiotic group experienced significantly faster pain relief (average 3.5 visits) compared to the IG group (average 5.4 visits). Edema subsided earlier in the steroid-antibiotic group, with complete resolution by the fifth visit, whereas the IG group required six visits. No adverse effects were reported in either group. The study concluded that steroid-antibiotic packs provide superior outcomes in terms of pain and swelling reduction, leading to fewer follow-up visits and enhanced patient satisfaction. These findings support the use of steroid-antibiotic packs as a valuable intervention for the effective management of AOEMohit@gmail.comResearch622016Steroid-Antibiotic Therapy, Acute Otitis Externa, Randomized Controlled Trial, Efficacy ComparisonDr. Mohit JindalAssociate Professor, Department of ENT, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagunoor, Telangana, India