Otomycosis: symptoms
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Complaints and clinical manifestations in otomycosis are a consequence of the vegetation of certain fungi in the ear and are largely due to the localization of the process.
The main complaints with otomycosis of the external ear: the appearance of liquid secretions (with candidiasis). Formation of crusts, congestion in the external auditory canal (with aspergillosis), itching, pain, and ear congestion. Individual patients in acute stages may have complaints of headache, fever, increased sensitivity of the auricle, behind-the-ear area and external auditory canal. With all forms of otomycosis of the external ear, hearing impairment is not detected at all or is insignificant in terms of the type of damage of the sound-transmitting apparatus
For clinical manifestations of mycotic otitis media, both the symptoms of the inflammatory purulent process of the middle ear and the symptoms of fungal involvement are characteristic. The main complaints of patients with mycotic middle otitis media: hearing loss, the appearance of secretions from the ear, periodic itching in the ear, may also be dizziness, etc. Objective sign of mycotic damage to the middle ear is the presence of a specific detachable, the color and consistency of which depend on the type of fungus-pathogen. Often the phenomena of external otitis join. The tympanic membrane is hyperemic, infiltrated, and perforations of various sizes are often found. In all cases, the visible mucosa of the tympanic cavity is hyperemic, infiltrated, sometimes granulations are formed on it.
With mycosis of the postoperative cavity of the middle ear, the recovery of the epithelium is absent or slow, the walls of the external auditory canal are hyperemic, unevenly infiltrated, the non-imipantal cavity is filled with pathological separable, characteristic of otomycosis of other localization. Detect small bleeding granulations.
The course of otomycosis is prolonged with periodic exacerbations. For exacerbation, the appearance of severe pain in the ear, itching, stuffiness, discharge from the ear, headache, dizziness is characteristic.
[