Otomycosis is a fairly common ailment that affects both adults and children. The characteristic features of the course of the disease can detect it in a timely manner. It is necessary to treat fungal otitis in a complex manner. Drugs are selected depending on the type of pathology.
Causes of Otomycosis
Pathology usually develops in the area of the external auditory canal, and can affect the eardrum. The main causative agents of otomycosis are fungi of the genus Candida and Aspergillus. Infection with pathogenic microorganisms often occurs against the background of an insufficient amount of sulfur. This phenomenon is observed with excessive care of the ear canals or in violation of the processes of sulfur formation.
Fungal otitis media can occur in patients with a weakened immune system who have had serious illnesses of a viral or bacterial etiology. Longer antibiotic therapy is able to suppress the protective functions of the body. The human body simply ceases to produce the necessary number of antibodies that could suppress the reproduction of harmful bacteria. Thus, ideal conditions for the development of mushrooms are created.
A provoking factor can also be damage to the skin of the ear canal. Mushrooms penetrate the wound, where they begin to multiply actively. Infection is often caused by swimming in pools or fresh water. Among the reasons for the development, experts also note the presence of metabolic disturbances in the patient, a deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the body.
Fungal otitis media: symptoms
Signs of some ear diseases are similar. The first thing you should pay attention to is the disappearance of a thin fat film that protects the ear canal from infections. This is accompanied by itching and discomfort. After some time, sulfuric plugs may appear, causing hearing loss or discharge from the ear canal.
The following symptoms are also characteristic of fungal otitis media:
- pain in the ear, worse when chewing and swallowing;
- dizziness;
- feeling of stuffiness;
- swelling (swelling) of the auricle and passage;
- discharge from the ear of a curdled consistency;
- a sensation of the presence of a foreign body in the ear canal;
- headache.
During a routine examination, not every specialist can determine the presence of an ailment. Only a microscopic examination of the material taken from the ear canal will help establish the correct diagnosis. It should be borne in mind that fungal infections are difficult to treat. Therefore, treatment should be started as early as possible.
Types of disease
The symptomatology of the pathology varies depending on the location of the focus of infection. So, the most common is external fungal otitis media. With an ailment, the ear canal and the auricle are affected . The main signs are a feeling of stuffiness in the ear, peeling of the skin and the appearance of edema. In the acute period, severe pain and abundant discharge from the ear canal are observed.
External otomycosis is often accompanied by inflammation of the parotid glands and lymph nodes. In the absence of proper therapy, the infection enters the middle ear cavity. In this case, the symptoms of the pathology become more pronounced, patients begin to complain of frequent headaches and the constant formation of sulfur plugs. The color of the discharge from the ear canal will depend on the type of fungal pathogen . When infection with moldy fungi, signs such as fever, aching joints, chills can be observed.
Fungal otitis media, in which the eardrum is affected , is the most severe form of the disease. In medical practice, pathology is called fungal myringitis. The inflammatory process leads to a sharp deterioration in hearing, profuse discharge and severe pain in the ear.
Fungal otitis media: treatment of the disease
Fungal infection is considered a rather dangerous ailment, which should be treated only under the supervision of a doctor. Local therapy is the main method of influencing pathology. Patients are shown to use antimycotic drugs selected by a specialist. To enhance the therapeutic effect, some patients are prescribed general antifungal therapy. If otomycosis is detected, antibiotic treatment should be discontinued if the patient has been taking them for any reason.
Medications for raising immunity, vitamin complexes will also help to cope with such an ailment as fungal otitis media. Treatment of the disease in children should be carried out only with the help of medications prescribed by a doctor. Otherwise, there is a huge likelihood of incomplete cure, which leads to a chronic course of infection.
Antiseptic solutions are used to rinse the ear canals. It is recommended to process the surface before each application of local antifungal drugs.
Effective drugs
Most drugs from the group of antimycotics have a wide range of effects and therefore they can be used with any type of pathogen. The following drugs are considered the most effective:
- "Nystatin."
- "Exoderyl."
- "Clotrimazole."
- "Lamisil."
- Diflucan.
- "Candibiotic."
- Econazole.
- Intraconazole
- Dexon.
- "Terbinafine."
The use of a particular medicine for fungal otitis media is determined only by a specialist.
Therapy depends on the severity of the symptoms of the infectious process and the patient's age group. Modern antimycotic drugs have a powerful therapeutic effect and, if used correctly, will quickly get rid of the fungus.
Ointment and Exoderil Solution
A pronounced antifungal effect is exoderil, available in the form of an ointment and a solution for external use. The main active ingredient in the composition of the drug is naftifin - a synthetic antifungal substance from the group of allylamines.
Fungal otitis can be treated both with ointment and with Exoderil solution. Before applying the medicine, a surface affected by microbes should be prepared. It must be borne in mind that the drug can not be applied to damaged skin. The product can cause dryness and burning. The number of applications of the ointment or solution, the duration of therapy is determined only by the doctor. After the symptoms of fungal infection disappear, an antimycotic drug should be used for another 7-14 days.
Drops "Candibiotic"
A multicomponent medicine in the form of drops is considered one of the most effective in various diseases of the ear. The drug helps to simultaneously stop the pain syndrome, eliminate unpleasant sensations and overcome the development of pathogens, including fungi.
The antimycotic effect of the drops is provided by the substance clotrimazole, and the antibacterial effect is provided by chloramphenicol. As an analgesic, lidocaine is included in the composition of the drug. Beclomethasone, another component of Candibiotic drops, has a pronounced antiallergic effect.
Reviews
In order to completely overcome the development of fungal infection in the ear canal, it is important to correctly establish the cause of infection and the type of pathogen. Only an ENT doctor can do this. According to patient reviews, otomycosis responds well to treatment at the local level with timely access to medical care. Antimycotic drugs with a wide range of therapeutic effects help to suppress the development and reproduction of fungi. The duration of treatment is 3-6 weeks.