Otomycosis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

What is Otomycosis?

Otomycosis is an ear infection that occurs due to fungus. If you live in a place that’s hot and humid, you’re more likely to have it. Fungal otitis externa is another name for this condition.

Otomycosis typically affects the outer ear canal. This canal begins at your eardrum and goes all the way to the outside of your head. Sometimes, it can also affect the middle ear. Fungi cause about 10% of outer ear canal infections (otitis externa).

Causes of fungal ear infection

1. Fungi:

Otomycosis is caused by many different kinds of fungi. Aspergillus and Candida are the fungi that cause these infections commonly. ‌Aspergillus is a common fungus that can develop both inside and outside. Aspergillus spores are in the air we breathe every day, but it doesn’t affect us.

Our bodies are full of different kinds of fungus. Candida is a type of yeast that normally lives on your skin and inside your body, such as in your mouth, throat, and gut. Some species can make you sick with a candidiasis infection, which comes in many forms like oral thrush.

2. Using antibiotics and steroids.

In the past few years, there have been more cases of otomycosis. Doctors say that antibiotic ear drops and antibiotics that work on a wide range of bacteria are to blame for this rise.

3. Weakened immune systems. 

People whose immune systems aren’t as strong are more likely to get otomycosis. They may have more problems with otomycosis and have it come back significantly more frequently. If the infection spreads to the temporal bone of your skull, this is a very severe problem. 

Some ear canal infection risk factors are:

• Getting contaminated water in your ears when swimming
• If you clean your ears with cotton swabs, you could damage your ear canal.
• Using hearing aids or earplugs, especially if you don’t clean them well.
• Getting hair dye or hair spray in your ear can be irritating.

Ear infections are more common in those who have a weak immune system. People with allergies or skin conditions like eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, or psoriasis are more likely to be infected.

Symptoms of otomycosis or fungal ear infection

Patients may frequently complain of hearing loss, itching (known medically as pruritus), tingling, ear discomfort/ pain (known medically as otalgia), or ear discharge (otorrhea).

Symptoms of otomycosis include pain on stimulation of the tragus or pinna. The following signs and symptoms may also usually appear in a patient:

• Otalgia can be mild or severe
• Loss-of-hearing
• Pressure or puffiness in the ear
• Redness, swelling, and a narrowing of the external auditory canal
• Tinnitus
• Fever
• Itching
• Necrotizing (malignant) otitis externa can cause severe, deep pain in people whose immune systems are weak.
• At first, the discharge is clear, but it quickly turns yellow and smells bad.
• Face or neck cellulitis or lymphadenopathy on the same side of the neck 
• Bilateral signs (rare)
• Doing things in water (often) (eg, swimming, surfing, kayaking)
• Ear trauma in the past (usually) (eg, forceful ear cleaning, use of cotton swabs, or water in the ear canal)

Otomycosis Treatment or Fungal ear infection Treatment

Once a doctor determines that a patient has otomycosis, they will be able to give the appropriate medication like eardrops, creams, or painkillers that can be used to treat it.

1. Cleaning

Initially, an ear needs to be cleaned by a doctor. They might use a rinse or a tool that pulls air out of the ear. Cleaning will get rid of any dirt or buildup so that the medicine can work better. The ear is then cleaned and dried as much as possible to stop fungus from growing back.

People shouldn’t try to clean their ears with cotton swabs or other tools, as this could make the problem worse.

2. Eardrops or other skin treatments

Eardrops formulated with an antifungal drug may be prescribed by a doctor. High percentages of people who use prescribe clotrimazole eardrops get better and are never infected again. Ear drops can also have chemicals like econazole, and miconazole.

Some other topical medicines which doctors could prescribe are:

• Acetik Ear Drop
• Methazil Ear Drops

These substances can help treat the fungus or soften the crust that forms, which makes it helpful to relieve pain.

3. Oral medicines

The doctor may prescribe oral medications, like Voritrol Tablet, Vorier Tablet, and Voraze Tablet,  which are usually only used for infections that are severe or hard to treat with topical agents.

Read more – Home remedies for ear fungal infection

Prevent otomycosis 

Otomycosis, also known as a fungal ear infection, can be avoided by taking a little bit of home care such as: 

• Putting earplugs in your ears when you swim or do other water sports.
• Using a hair dryer or a towel to dry the ears completely after taking a bath or going swimming.
• Don’t use cotton swabs to clean your ears because they can push ear wax or other debris deeper into the ear canal.
• Make sure you don’t scratch the skin around or inside your ears.

Conclusion

After consulting with your doctor, you may also refer to our Truemeds Physicians, which provides free online consultations. They provide you with home medicine delivery, a discount offer, and monthly savings on your medical bill. Online pharmacy, Truemeds, provides the highest-quality medications at the lowest prices. It also provides all varieties of medications, including branded, over-the-counter, and nutritional supplements, as well as Generic medicines online at an affordable price.

We are India’s most reliable and genuine online medicines supplier. When you select an alternative or generic drug that is advised by our Truemeds expert doctors, you may be able to save additional money when you make your order for prescriptions online. Truemeds provides necessary medicines savings of up to 72% off costs with PAN India home delivery.