Causes, symptoms and medications for ear fungus

The outer ear canal is the part located outside, in between the eardrum and the eardrum; It has a curved shape like the letter S. The outer part of the ear canal contains small hairs, the oil glands that make earwax, the temperature is usually warm and the humidity is high. Because of this structure and location, the outer ear canal often suffers from inflammatory diseases, fungal infections of the ear canal are a typical example. Let's learn more about this disease as well as how to effectively use ear canal fungicides to avoid recurrence.

Ear fungus is a lesion in the outer ear canal caused by a fungus.
Ear fungus is a fairly common disease today; Children are more susceptible to the disease because of the small, hairy and mucous membranes of the outer ear canal, which are favorable conditions for the growth of fungi.
The incidence of the disease depends on the geographical area, environmental hygiene, personal hygiene and seasons of the year. Otitis externa accounts for 5% to 30% of otitis externa worldwide.
In our country, the hot, humid tropical climate and polluted environment create favorable conditions for pathogenic fungi to grow.
The cause of fungal infections of the ear canal can be caused by many different types of fungi, but the two main types are Candida and Aspergillus.
People who are prone to fungal infections of the ear canal:
People who are immunocompromised (diabetes, malnutrition, obesity,...) People who use corticosteroids for a long time. People who work in hot, humid environments often don't clean their outer ears, which will create a dirty and humid environment that helps fungi to grow (for example, people who often swim in public swimming pools or rivers, lakes, streams, kitchens, etc.) ...) People who use earwax and ear washing services at barber shops with unclean sanitary conditions can cause fungal infections. Women with vaginal yeast infections may also be susceptible to ear infections.

Symptoms of fungal ear infections can be found in one or both ears and vary depending on the severity as follows:
Ear itching is the most common symptom of the disease. Patients will feel constant itching, discomfort, so they often use their fingers to poke inside the ear or tilt their head, bang their hands on the itchy ear. The more you pick, the more your ears itch and can lead to pain. In the early stages, the patient has a feeling of swelling, tightness, and discomfort in the ear, in some cases, there is a case of discharge or a yellow-brown wet discharge. If left for a long time, the epidermis of the ear canal will peel off and mix with the fungal tissue to form a scab that narrows the ear canal or covers the surface of the eardrum, causing symptoms: tinnitus and hearing loss. In case there is an opportunistic infection that causes inflammation of the ear canal, there will be symptoms: red swelling, pain in the ear. Appearance of an opaque white layer or clusters in the tube, ear membrane; sometimes it forms an opaque white mass that partially or completely fills the ear canal. When looking at specialized lights, it is often clear that the mushroom organization grows in many colors such as white, ash-gray, yellow, and black; shaped like a yeast. These flakes, when peeled off, are lumpy or tubular. If the fungal patch is taken to look under the microscope, you will see the spores or filaments of the fungus with different morphology typical for each different fungus (eg, white debris is usually Candida; interspersed with other fungi. white, yellow and black spots are usually Aspergillus fungi).

When there are suspicious signs, patients need to go to medical facilities to be examined by experts in a timely manner. In case the patient is diagnosed with a fungal infection of the ear canal, the patient needs to be treated according to the right regimen.
Usually with fungal infections of the ear canal, local treatments will be used:
Remove the fungal tissue and clean the ear canal and eardrum: Moisten the ear canal and use a cotton swab soaked in 1% betadin solution or other preparations. another product with a similar effect to clean the ear canal. Use drugs applied to the lining of the ear canal: for example, 2% blue-methylene, 3% salicylic acid alcohol, boric, antifungal ointment... to kill fungi. Ear fungus is often persistent and difficult to treat completely, so it is important to use the correct long-term ear fungus medication as prescribed by your doctor.

Do not use dirty earplugs or share them with others. Always keep the ear canal clean and dry. Wipe and dry your ears after swimming or bathing to avoid creating an environment for fungus to grow. Do not wipe the ear too many times, it will destroy the natural immune layer in the skin of the outer ear canal. Ear drops containing antibiotics should not be used for a long time. Do not use corticosteroids for a long time because they can weaken the immune system, creating conditions for fungal ear canal. Strengthen the body's resistance by supplementing vitamins and minerals. It is necessary to thoroughly treat fungal diseases in other parts of the body to avoid fungal infections of the ear canal (such as vaginal thrush,...). Note that when having ear canal fungus, it must be treated early and adhere to the treatment regimen of the doctor to avoid recurrence.
Vinmec International General Hospital is a general hospital with the function of examining and treating ear, nose and throat diseases such as sinusitis, rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinitis, tonsillitis, and pain. throat, tinnitus and many other diseases. At Vinmec, we have also performed endoscopic diagnosis and treatment with modern medical methods for ear, nose and throat diseases, which not only brings high efficiency but also minimizes complications of recurrent disease. The great success is because Vinmec is always fully equipped with modern facilities, examination and treatment procedures are carried out by a team of experienced and qualified doctors that will bring about treatment results. optimal for customers.