Otomycosis is a disease of the cavity of the outer ear, in which foci of inflammation occur in the ear canals caused by the activity of some fungal microorganisms. In this article, we will understand how otomycosis manifests itself. Symptoms, treatment, photos will be examined in detail.
Causes of Otomycosis
Due to the openness of the auditory canals for constant free access of pathogenic bacteria, the disease develops quickly enough, and the complete elimination of the symptoms of otomycosis takes a long time and requires a professional approach to the choice of treatment methods.
The cause of the inflammatory process of the external auditory canals can be various mechanical injuries and the unsatisfactory internal state of the human body. Most often, otomycosis occurs in the following circumstances:
inadequate hygiene of the auricles and external auditory meatus;
damage to the external parts of the ear by foreign objects, including during ear care;
various bruises and ear injuries;
swimming in contaminated water bodies;
moisture in the ear canals and prolonged water retention inside the ear;
other diseases and complications, including after operations that lead to the occurrence of infectious foci.
All this can trigger otomycosis. The treatment can be quite lengthy.
Fungal pathogens
The most common causative agent of otomycosis is fungal organisms from the groups Aspergillus, Candida, Penicillium, therefore, an accurate determination of the origin of the pathogenic fungus will quickly and efficiently block the growth of microorganisms and eliminate inflammatory processes.
However, the main difficulty in diagnosing otomycosis is that these fungi are conditionally pathogenic, since they are always present in the healthy bacterial flora of the epidermis, and it is not always possible to accurately determine the source of infection.
Otomycosis: Symptoms
Treatment of otomycosis is a painstaking and lengthy process. It is advisable not to prevent its occurrence, as well as closely monitor any negative symptoms in the ear area. The most characteristic signs of otomycosis are:
- severe irritation and itching;
- sulfuric and sometimes liquid discharge from the auditory canal;
- palpable odor from the ears;
- the appearance of a whitish mealy or tan raid on the auricles and external auditory canal;
- fever, nausea, and other signs of toxic poisoning are possible.
Additional factors provoking otomycosis
In addition to the most common causes that contribute to the transition of microorganisms from a saprophytic state to a pathogenic one, complex diseases of the immune system and metabolism, such as diabetes mellitus, can be mentioned. Increased blood sugar becomes a favorable factor for the multiple increase in the number of pathogenic bacteria on the skin, in the auditory canals and other tissues that are in close contact with the air masses.
Concomitant disease otomycosis may be present in somatic diseases. General weakening of the body, hypogenic factors, vitamin deficiencies, malfunctions and metabolic disorders, prolonged use of antibiotics and radiation therapy contribute to the rapid multiplication of fungi and the transition of the disease into an open acute symptom phase.
Otomycosis - treatment, drugs
To begin with, determine the type of pathogen and the cause of inflammation. After that, outpatient treatment of otomycosis begins. Despite the complexity of the therapeutic measures, stationary options are resorted to extremely rarely. Only if the disease is found in severe form. Otomycosis, the treatment of which with drugs may not give a result, will require the intervention of more complex therapy.
As the main medicines, various popular antifungal agents are used, such as Nystatin, Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Levorin and others.
For external use, ointments and creams containing bifonazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine are used. For washing, an alcohol solution of oxyquinoline, a gysemin emulsion, salicylic alcohol are used.
To relieve the allergenic effects that often occur with fungal diseases, moderate desensitizing therapy and correction of the drug series with antihistamines are indicated.
Otomycosis, the treatment of which involves the use of antifungal drugs, lasts from 7 to 14 days.
Recently, the drug "Naftifin" has been used to effectively localize pathogenesis, which effectively blocks the synthesis of a number of enzymes in dermatophytes, molds and fungal organisms of the genus Candida, Aspergillus and Penicillium. It suppresses their further development, relieves inflammatory processes and facilitates ear otomycosis. Treatment should be comprehensive.
External treatment of affected areas
With otomycosis, it is important to carry out external treatment of the ears. Regularly eliminate the discharge and surface plaque formed in the front-lower parts of the auditory canals and auricles. Since abundant pathogenic masses delay the healing process and additionally injure the epidermis of the auricles. It is highly advisable to carry out these procedures in treatment rooms under the supervision of specialists in order to achieve a good sterilizing and cleaning effect.
In cases of mycotic otitis media, it is necessary to remove mycotic masses directly from the area of perforation of the tympanic membrane. To do this, washing the tympanum with antifungal solutions, for example, uses a 0.01% solution of miramistin.
What other treatments are used for otomycosis?
In cases of internal mycoses arising from external foci or after surgery, polyps and granulations are previously removed from the middle ear cavity. The cavity is stewed with 20% silver nitrate, and is also regularly treated behind a spur and in the posterior part of the ear.
Infectious foci are treated with various short-term compresses and therapeutic birusa, soaked in fungicidal solutions. Turundas, or ear swabs soaked in preparations, are placed in the ear canal for several minutes 4-5 times a day. External treatment should be continued for another 2-3 weeks after taking mycoseptic medicines. The total duration of treatment for a month is considered normal, although it can sometimes take a longer time.
Also, some types of physiotherapy are used to relieve inflammation: EP UHF, inductothermy, ultraphonophoresis of hydrocortisone, prednisolone, which relieve irritation, itching, and inhibit the reproduction of fungal organisms. Transcranial electrical stimulation improves tissue regeneration, has an analgesic effect, and gives positive hemodynamics.
Relapses
Since otomycosis is provoked by a wide variety of factors, its treatment is often aggravated by recurrent moments. Patients who have had the disease should be monitored for up to six months after recovery. Also, as a preventive measure, the patient’s ears are treated with antimycotic solutions 1-4 times a month.
With a correctly diagnosed diagnosis, recommendations are given to eliminate the causes of the disease and reduce the risk of relapse.
Traditional medicine methods
With the disease, otomycosis, treatment with folk remedies is also possible, but it must be carried out in combination and under the supervision of a doctor.
Folk remedies are best used as procedures concomitant with antibiotics and fungicidal methods, since by themselves they are absolutely ineffective. In any case, it is unlikely that an accurate diagnosis can be made without professional help and laboratory tests, especially to reveal fungal invasion in the tympanic region and the middle ear cavity.
As a "home" means for external use are used:
- solutions of alcohol, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide;
- garlic juice diluted with olive or sunflower oil;
The indicated solutions treat external infected areas, and in small quantities they can also be instilled into the ear canals between fungicidal washes. Since many components can cause burns of the skin, you should strictly adhere to the dosage and do not increase their concentration and exposure time. With diagnosed damage to the tympanic membrane, foreign solutions should not be instilled at all.
Long-term compresses or heat treatment of the skin are also contraindicated, as this can only increase the reproduction of pathogens.
Otomycosis Prevention Measures
To prevent the occurrence of otomycotic foci, first of all, it is necessary to conduct reasonable therapy of various chronic diseases with glucocorticoid drugs and antibiotics. In severe immune diseases, it is necessary to correct the glycemic profile, carefully observe ear hygiene, use immunomodulating and restorative therapy.
At the slightest negative symptoms, you should contact a specialist and carefully follow all prescribed recommendations and procedures so that otomycosis, the treatment of which takes a long time, does not recur.