Abstract:
Introduction Otomycosis has been described as fungal infection of the external auditory canal with infrequent complications involving the middle ear .Otomycosis is challenging for both patients and otolaryngologist as it frequently requires long term treatment and follow up. Inspite of proper treatment and follow up, the recurrence rate remains high. The aim of current study is to detect the most common fungi in otomycosis patients and determine its risk factors .
om 194 patients clinically diagnosed with otomycosis. Each swab is subjected to direct microscopic examination with 10 %KOH and culture on Sabroud's Dextrose agar(SDA) and blood agar . Filamentous fungal growth is identified by macro- and micro morphological characteristics .Yeast like growth is identified by (API 20C) AUX. Results: The mean age ±SD of the patients was 24.18± 15.9 years. Males (n=106,54%), were more vulnerable to otomycosis than females (n=88, 45%). The most common presenting symptom was otorrhea and pruritus (n= 78 ,40%) with unilateral involvement being more common. The most common predisposing factor is self-cleaning (n=84 ,43%)followed by topical antibiotic ear drops with steroid use (n=30,15%). Aspergillus fumigatus was the most common fungus causing otomycosis in this study (n=70, 36%) followed by Candida tropicalis (n=28,16%). Positive fungal cultures were observed in 180 specimens (90%).Conclusion: Otomycosis is common in people with the bad habit of self -cleaning with unsterilized objects and using unnecessary steroid containing ear drops.Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida tropicalis were the most prevalent isolated fungi in otomycosis patients.


Keywords : Otomycosis ,predisposing factors, otitis externa