Fungal Ear Infection

Also known as "Otomycosis."

We have selected the following expert medical opinion based on its clarity, reliability and accuracy. Credits: Sourced from the website Patient UK, authored by Dr Laurence Knott, reviewed by Dr Helen Huins (see below). Please refer to your own medical practitioner for a final perspective, assessment or evaluation.

Overview

Fungal ear infection is an infection of the ear with a fungus. It normally involves the canal that runs from the ear hole to the eardrum (the external auditory canal). The medical term for it is otomycosis.

Who gets a fungal ear infection?

Fungal infection of the ear is more common in people living in tropical and subtropical countries. It's also more common in people who do a lot of water sports such as SCUBA diving and surfing. It occurs more often in the summer than the winter.

About 1 in 8 people with infections of the outer part of the ear (otitis externa) have fungal infections.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of a fungal ear infection?

Typically, the ear starts to look red and the skin on the outer part of the ear becomes scaly. It may start to itch and become quite uncomfortable. You may notice discharge beginning to leak out of the ear.

The itching is often worse with fungal infections than with other types of ear infection. Apart from this the symptoms of a fungal ear infection are often identical to ear infections caused by germs (bacteria). This means your doctor may prescribe antibiotic ear drops to start with and may only suspect a fungal infection when the treatment doesn't work.

Causes

What causes a fungal ear infection?

Earwax (cerumen) protects the lining of the ear from fungus so anything that reduces the amount of wax (such as sea water splashing into the ear canal and overuse of cotton buds) will allow a fungal infection to take hold. Eczema of the skin inside the ear can be another risk factor.

The outside temperature plays a significant part. Fungi grow faster in the heat, so it's more common in warmer climates. In the UK it occurs more often in summer than in winter.

9 out of 10 fungal infections are due to a fungus belonging to the Aspergillus species and the rest are caused by a fungus of the Candida species.

Diagnosis

How is a fungal ear infection diagnosed?

It you've just come back from SCUBA diving in Hawaii, your doctor may well suspect a fungal cause for your ear infection. Otherwise, because a fungal infection looks just like an infection from germs (bacteria), it's unlikely to be the first thing your doctor thinks of. Most likely, a fungal infection will only be suspected if your infection does not improve with antibiotic drops prescribed for a bacterial infection.

Will I need any tests for a fungal ear infection?

Your doctor will probably treat your ear first and take an ear swab if the condition doesn't get better. Taking an ear swab is a fairly simple procedure and involves the doctor (or nurse) putting a swab that looks very similar to a cotton bud in your ear and swishing it around. This shouldn't be painful unless your ear is very tender and inflamed from the infection. Even then, gentle swabbing should only cause mild discomfort.

When should I see a doctor about a fungal ear infection?

Fungal ear infections usually cause a fair amount of discomfort and discharge so most people want to see a doctor soon after the condition starts. There are some eardrops available from pharmacies, but the best they can do is reduce the inflammation a bit. In fungal infections, they don't usually have much effect.

See a doctor sooner rather than later if:

• You are in a lot of pain.
• Your ear produces a lot of discharge.
• You feel generally unwell or develop unusual symptoms such as dizziness.
• You have a high temperature.
• The outer part of your ear looks very mucky.
• Your hearing becomes muffled.
• You've bought some treatment from the chemist which hasn't worked.

Treatment

How is a fungal ear infection treated?

If the inside of your ear looks really messy, the doctor may suggest a clean-up. This has the odd name of aural toilet. It can be done by a doctor or more usually a nurse. It involves gently clearing the ear of discharge using swabs, a suction tube or syringe. This may need to be done several times a week in the first instance. Aural toileting eases discomfort and also helps ear drops to get to the right place. However, it may be a bit uncomfortable while you're having it done, and you may need to take some painkillers.

Don't fiddle with your ear, keep it dry and try to resist scratching inside, however itchy it may be, as this will stop the infection from clearing up. It's not usually advisable to put a cotton wool plug in the ear unless you get a lot of discharge and you need to keep it under control for the sake of appearances.

Avoid swimming until the condition clears up.

Your doctor may prescribe 5% aluminium acetate ear drops. This is also known as Burow's solution. It's not an antifungal but is used to calm down inflammation and help remove any muck in your ear.

A similar preparation that helps with inflammation is 2% acetic acid. This is available on prescription or can be bought from the chemist in the form of EarCalm® spray. 

There are a number of antifungal ear drops available which may be useful, such as clotrimazole 1% ear drops or an antifungal/steroid combination such as flumetasone pivalate 0.02% plus clioquinol 1% ear drops. There's no real evidence that one is better than another.

If you've tried antifungal drops for a couple of weeks and you're still having problems, stop the treatment and go back and see your doctor. You may need further investigation and/or referral to a specialist. Hospital doctors have special ways of getting the ear clean and dry, such as inserting a pack made from ribbon gauze, a wick made of sponge that hangs out of the ear and drains it or suction using a tiny tube (microsuction).

Prognosis

What is the outlook for a fungal ear infection?

Providing you're otherwise fit and well and your immune system is working properly, the infection should respond fairly quickly to antifungal treatment. However, if you have a long-term condition that makes you prone to getting repeated infections (such as diabetes or AIDS) it may well come back or become persistent. Also if you're exposed to whatever it was that caused the infection in the first place (for example, you go straight back to water sports again), it's likely to return.

The problem with fungal infections (and other types of otitis externa) is that once the ear canal is infected the defence system protecting the ear may not return to normal and a vicious cycle is set up. This explains why frequently poking around inside your ear with a cotton bud (some people call it 'cleaning out the ear') prolongs the condition.

About the author

Dr Laurence Knott (Author)

BSc (Hons) (Biochemistry), MB BS

Qualified 1973. 37 years experience in general practice. Medical author who has contributed to many lay and professional publications. Particularly interested in converting medical terminology into information comprehensive to non-medical readers. Clinical complaints adviser to the Medical Defence Union. External professional adviser to the Health Service Ombudsman. Extensive medicolegal practice specialising in clinical negligence. Listed on the National Crime Database, advising police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service on medicolegal aspects of criminal cases. Erstwhile GP medical adviser to the Guillain-Barré & Associated Inflammatory Neuropathies charity, now member and ex-patient.

Dr Helen Huins (Reviewer)

MB BS Lond, DCH, DRCOG, MRCGP, JCPTGP, DFFP

Helen qualified at Guy’s Hospital in 1989 and left London in 1990 to settle in the countryside. She works as a GP partner in a rural dispensing practice and is passionate about family medicine and continuity of care with interests in sport and nutrition. Helen has been a member of the EMIS authoring team since 1995.

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