ABSTRACT
To report ear drum disintegration in cases of otomycosis. Case series study. E.N.T and Head and Neck Surgery Department PNS Shifa Hospital Karachi and E N T Department of Combined Military Hospital, Quetta Cantt from August 2009 to October 2010. 242 patients with clinical diagnosis of otomycosis were registered over a period of 15 months. On registration ear was meticulously cleaned under microscope removing fungal debris to establish the integrity of eardrum. In the same sitting cream with combination of triamcinolone acetonide, neomycin sulphate, gramicidin, nystatin was applied all around within external auditory meatus [EAM] on effected walls and same drops were advised locally thrice daily for 3 to 5 days. Every patient was advised to report back immediately on occurrence of irritation, earache, ear discharge, blockage of ear and pain. Out of 242patients [140 males and 102 females] 110 [45.45%] were cured after single visit as outpatient adopting a regimen of single application of antifungal cream and thrice daily antifungal ear drops for 5 days after proper cleaning of fungal debris from EAM. 73 [30.16%] cases were cured of otomycosis after two sittings of same regimen. 59 [24%] patients neglected the otomycosis for days to weeks till the time pain became unbearable. In 18 [7.43%] patients ear drum was perforated by otomycosis and all these patients had neglected the disease. Neglected Qtomyeosis has all the potentials to create a defect in ear drum causing chronic disability .Meticulous cleaning and local antifungal therapy still remains the gold standards for curing otomycQsis