Otomycosis

Patients typically present with severe ear pain, itchiness and blocked ears. The hearing may be muffled and sometimes there is discharge from the ears which may be blood stained. As the fungus tends to cause the skin epithelium to exfoliate the ear canal becomes full of a mass that looks like “wet newspaper” which is full of fungus and desquamated skin epithelium. Meticulous cleaning of the ear canal is the mainstay of the treatment. This is done with fine suction under microscopic guidance. The ear canal is meticulously cleared of debris and discharge. As the fungal infection can re-cur ear cleaning may be required several times a week. The patient is instructed to keep the ear dry and avoid scratching it with cotton wool buds. Application of Gentian Violet on the ear canal is useful as it has some antifungal properties and is used for fungal infections of the skin. Antifungal ear drops such as clotrimazole 1% ear drops (Canesten®) are prescribed.