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Otomycosis - Symptoms
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Complaints and clinical manifestations of otomycosis are a consequence of the vegetation of certain fungi in the ear and are largely determined by the localization of the process.
The main complaints with otomycosis of the outer ear: the appearance of liquid discharge (with candidiasis), the formation of crusts, plugs in the external auditory canal (with aspergillosis), itching, pain, ear congestion. Some patients in the acute stage may complain of headache, fever, increased sensitivity of the auricle, the area behind the ear and the external auditory canal. With all forms of otomycosis of the outer ear, hearing loss is not detected at all or it is insignificant due to the type of damage to the sound-conducting apparatus.
The clinical manifestations of mycotic otitis media are characterized by both symptoms of the inflammatory purulent process of the middle ear and symptoms of fungal infection. The main complaints of patients with mycotic otitis media are: hearing loss, discharge from the ear, periodic itching in the ear, there may also be dizziness, etc. An objective sign of mycotic infection of the middle ear is the presence of a specific discharge, the color and consistency of which depend on the type of fungus-pathogen. Often, symptoms of external otitis are added. The eardrum is hyperemic, infiltrated, perforations of various sizes are often found. In all cases, the visible mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity is hyperemic, infiltrated, sometimes granulations are formed on it.
In case of mycosis of the postoperative middle ear cavity, the restoration of the epithelium is absent or sharply slowed down, the walls of the external auditory canal are hyperemic, unevenly infiltrated, the neotympanic cavity is filled with pathological discharge, characteristic of otomycosis of another localization. Small bleeding granulations are detected.
The course of otomycosis is long with periodic exacerbations. Exacerbations are characterized by the appearance of severe pain in the ear, itching, congestion, discharge from the ear, headache, dizziness.
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