The following features are indicative of Otomycosis:
greyish white thick debris in ear
heaviness in the ear
itching
severe pain
complete blockage of the ear canal
redness or swelling of the outer ear
Get TabletWise Pro
Thousands of Classes to Help You Become a Better You.
Common Causes of Otomycosis
The following are the most common causes of Otomycosis:
Aspergillus niger
Aspergillus fumigatus
Penicillium and Candida albicans fungus
Risk Factors for Otomycosis
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Otomycosis:
swimming in water with elevated bacteria levels
narrow ear canal
aggressive cleaning of the ear canal with cotton swabs or other objects
use of certain devices, such as headphones or a hearing aid
skin allergies or irritation from jewelry, hair spray or hair dyes
Prevention of Otomycosis
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Otomycosis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
dry the ear thoroughly after it gets wet
avoid swimming in polluted water
protect the ear canal with cotton or lambswool while applying hairspray or hair dye
Occurrence of Otomycosis
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Otomycosis cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Otomycosis can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Otomycosis can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Otomycosis
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Otomycosis:
Microscopy: To detect the presence of fungus inside the ear
Examination of the ear canal: To confirm the sign and symptoms of the disease
Visualization of the eardrum: To be sure that eardrum isn't torn or damaged
Doctor for Diagnosis of Otomycosis
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Otomycosis:
ENT Specialist
Complications of Otomycosis if untreated
Yes, Otomycosis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Otomycosis is left untreated:
serous otitis media
external auditory canal osteitis
tympanic membrane perforations
Procedures for Treatment of Otomycosis
The following procedures are used to treat Otomycosis:
Mastoidectomy: To remove the mastoid air cells and provides better hearing
Self-care for Otomycosis
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Otomycosis:
keep the ears dry
use homemade preventive ear drops before and after swimming
avoid putting foreign objects in the ear
protect the ears from irritants
use caution after an ear infection or surgery
Patient Support for Treatment of Otomycosis
The following actions may help Otomycosis patients:
Join supporting research groups: Provides medical knowledge and care about the disease
Time for Treatment of Otomycosis
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Otomycosis to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision: