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Otomycosis| definition, causes, symptoms, predisposing factors and treatment

Otomycosis is a fungal infection of the external auditory canal that mostly affects the inhabitants of tropical or warm areas.

Predisposing factors of Otomycosis

  • Frequent swimming.
  • Diabetes mellitus and other immunosuppressive conditions.
  • Chronic diseases and skin diseases.
  • Warm weather and tropic areas.
    Otomycosis

Causes of Otomycosis

There are many fungal species that cause this disease, the most common of which are Aspergillus and Candida.
Also bacteria can combine fungi, which makes the infection more complicated.


How to diagnose otomycosis?

Symptoms:

  1. Itching, and may be some pain.
  2. Deafness, if external auditory canal is obstructed.
  3. Creamy or greyish white discharge.

Signs:

  1. Skin erythema.
  2. Fungal mass: Black, grey (wet newspaper appearance) or White (fluffy cotton).

Prevention| how to prevent Otomycosis

  • Dry your ears after bathing.
  • While swimming or surfing: avoid getting water in your ears.
  • Never put cotton swabs in the ear.
  • If water gets in your ear, use acetic acid ear drops.
  • Avoid repeated ear scratching.

Treatment of Otomycosis

  • Remove fungal mass (better avoid wash).
  • Apply Nystatine anti-fungal ear drops.
  • Use keratolytic e.g alcohol+ salicylic acid.
  • Packing with anti-fungal cream.
  • If fungus like aspergillus resists topical antfungal, Oral itraconazole should be given.
Otomycosis| definition, causes, symptoms, predisposing factors and treatment
Dr.Tamer Mobarak

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