A Prospective Analysis of Otomycosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Aremu, Shuaib Kayode and Adewoye, Kayode Rasaq and Ibrahim, Tayo A Prospective Analysis of Otomycosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital. International Journal of Tropical Diseases, 3 (1). ISSN 2643-461X

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Abstract

Background: Otomycosis is a fungal infection of the external auditory canal, commonly encountered in the general otolaryngology department. Otomycosis is more frequently observed in hot and humid climates and various individual, as well as environmental factors, predispose to this infection. This study aims to explore the prevalence of otomycosis in a tertiary care hospital in Ekiti state, Nigeria, along with a focus on patient demographics, predisposing risk factors, and pathogenic causes. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) department of Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti, which is a tertiary care hospital in Ekiti state, Nigeria. The study involved 275 patients above the age of 10, who presented in the ENT department over 5 years period and were clinically diagnosed cases of otomycosis. Certain patient demographics such as age, gender, and clinical presentations were recorded along with possible risk factors and clinically observed findings. Microbiological causes were evaluated via the culture of samples collected from each individual. Results were statistically analysed and the results are presented in a tabulated manner. Results: The results obtained in our study revealed that the majority of the subjects were between the ages of 20 and 30 years, making a total of 38.2% of the study population. Males were observed more commonly then females accounting for 56% of the total study population. 267 patients reported unilateral ear involvement among which the right ear was involved in 82% of the cases. The most frequently observed risk factor was self-cleaning of ears with objects such as q-tips, wooden sticks, metal pickers, etc. seen in 71% of the study population, followed by the use of antibiotic ear drops observed in 57% and instillation of mustard oil in 52% of the study group. The most common presenting symptom in the study population was reported to be pruritus of the ear in 73% followed by otalgia in 66.5%, and sensation of blocked ear observed in 57%. Fungi were established to be the causative organism in 270 out of the total 275 samples and the most commonly isolated fungi were Aspergillus seen in 91% of the total population. The most common species of Aspergillus that was isolated from samples was Aspergillus Niger seen in 56%. The second most commonly isolated fungus was Candida in 13.8% of the group. Bacteria were isolated from 56.4% of the total samples as a concomitant organism, Staphylococcus aureus is the most commonly seen in 58% of the samples. The present study, apart from highlighting the patient population and causative agents of otomycosis, also places stringent focus on the need for education to eradicate the aforementioned predisposing risk factors to hinder the incidence of otomycosis.

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