DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i04.060

Pages: 1672-1676

Otorrhoea is a common symptom with which patients come to an otolaryngologist. Use of self-medicated antibiotic with steroid ear drops for long duration increases the possibility of otomycosis. The present study was conducted for a duration of three years in two Medical Colleges of West Bengal, India, to find the prevalence of fungal infections in otorrhoea. Out of the 226 patients in the study, 144 cases (63.7%) of purely bacterial, 59 cases (26.1%) of mixed (bacterial and fungal) and 23 cases (10.2%) of purely fungal infections were isolated. Total number of fungal infection were 72 (36.3%) out of 226. The most common age group was 20-30 years (33.3%) whereas the least common age group was 1-10 years (9.7%). A male predominance (63.9%) with a male, female ratio of 1.76:1 was found. Aspergillus species were the most common fungus and were found in 44 cases (61.1%) followed by Candida species in 10 cases (13.9%). Out of the 44 Aspergillus positive samples, Aspergillus niger was the most common and was found in 28 patients (38.9%) while other Aspergillus species found were Aspergillus flavus in 8 patients (11.1%), Aspergillus fumigatus in 4 patients (5.6%), and Aspergillus terreas in 4 patients (5.6%). Other fungi found in our study were Mucor species in 4 patients (5.6%), Penicillium species. in 6 patients (8.3%), Fusarium species. in 6 patients (8.3%) and Nigrospora species in 2 patients (3%). Patients with persisting otorrhoea using antibiotic with or without steroid ear drops as self-medication for long duration are more likely to have fungal infection. In such cases, ear swab for fungal culture should be done routinely.