Otomycosis: The Hidden Menace of Rainy Season

So the rainy season is here! Before getting into ENT practice, I felt like the most common ENT complaints during rainy seasons would be flu, cold, cough etc. But I am surprised by the number of patients in OPD with fungal ear infections. So I decided to talk about this fairly unknown but common menace during rainy season, or basically, humid times.

What is Otomycosis?

Humid and warm climates are fungi's favorite seasons. During rainy season, you will see mold growing in every corner of the house. And there's a pretty good chance it can grow in your ears as well! We call this infection "Otomycosis" or "fungal otitis externa." You can also compare it with dandruff - similar characteristics except this condition can be painful at times.

How Do I Know If I Have It?

Common Symptoms:

• Itching (often severe)

• Wetness and heaviness in ear

• Ear blockage or fullness

• Pain in the ear

Risk factors:

• History of water entering the ear (swimming, bathing, rain)

• Curdy white or wet newspaper-like discharge

• Immunocompramised state (Diabetis, HIV,)

• Hearing aid user

• Chronic dermatitis or eczema patients.

• Previous antibiotics usage.

The most common fungi growing in the ear are Aspergillus or Candida species. Aspergillus looks like old wet newspaper, while Candida has a typical curdy white appearance - almost like cottage cheese.

When Should You See a Doctor?

Fungal ear infection calls for urgent attention by an ENT doctor. Since OTC antibiotic ear drops or wax solvents will add up to the condition, they just tend to add layers on the existing debries and make it a better condition for the fungus to grow.

Treatment: What to Expect?

The first and most important step is professional cleaning of your ear. Your ENT doctor needs to clean out all the fungal debris before starting antifungal treatment. This cleaning can be done through:

• Suction cleaning

• Removing fungus with specialized instruments

• Note: Ear syringing is avoided since adding water creates conditions that fungi love

After thorough cleaning, you'll be prescribed medications - mainly topical antifungals. These can be given as ear drops or medicated ear wicks.

Be patient with treatment: Otomycosis can take around 3-4 weeks to be completely cured. This is because the fungus has roots deep into the external ear skin, causing it to regrow even if conditions change slightly. It's important to use medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Most infections clear after one cleaning session, but sometimes multiple cleanings may be required - this is completely normal.

Prevention Tips

• Keep your ears dry, especially during humid weather

• Avoid using cotton swabs or ear buds - they can damage the ear canal and push debris deeper

• Dry your ears gently with a towel after swimming or bathing

• Don't try home remedies or use random ear drops

• If you have diabetes or other conditions that affect immunity, be extra careful about ear hygiene

The Bottom Line

Fungal ear infections are common during rainy season but completely treatable with proper medical care. Don't ignore persistent ear itching or discharge - early treatment prevents complications and gets you back to comfort faster. Remember, what works for bacterial ear infections won't work here, so always consult an ENT specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment.