Clinical presentation and fungal species distribution in otomycosis in a tertiary care hospital

ABSTRACT

Objective: Otomycosis is a common fungal ear infection in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. This study aimed to perform mycological analysis on fungal debris from the external auditory canals of the patients to study the most common clinical presentation and fungal species distribution in otomycosis. Materials and Methods: Patients who met the inclusion criteria for this cross-sectional study were included and evaluated after providing written informed consent. After obtaining a thorough medical history, ear swabs for culture, sensitivity, and potassium hydroxide were provided. Patients with positive culture results were studied between September 2019 and March 2021. Results: Among 103 cases observed for 18 months in the Department of ENT, Rajarajeswari Medical College, and Hospital, Bengaluru, India, we found that males (56.31%) were more affected than females (43.68%). Itching (67.96%) was the most primary and common symptom that was observed, followed by pain (20.38%), and the most common predisposing factor was the usage of earbuds (26.21%) followed by water in the ear (23.3%) and oil in the ear (16.50%). Unilateral infection was most common (96%), and the left ear was most affected (64.07%). Aspergillus niger was the most common fungal isolate (60.19%), and otomycosis was very common in postmonsoon (October–December) (58.25%). Conclusion: The most frequent fungal isolates in otomycosis are from the Aspergillus and Candida species. The left ear was typically affected by otomycosis, which frequently had a unilateral predominance. The most common clinical symptoms were itching and pain.