Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat They Look LikeCausesSigns & SymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentRidding Them From the HomePrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What They Look Like
Causes
Signs & Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Ridding Them From the Home
Prevention
Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are common in dogs and cats. Ear mites areparasites, which means they live on and feed off a host. An infestation in the ear is known medically asotoacariasis.
While extremely common in household pets, these ear bugs are rare in humans. Only a handful of human cases have been reported in a recent 40-year time span.The most common symptoms of ear mites in humans include itching, pain, and a feeling like something is in your ear.
This article explains whether humans can get ear mites from their pets, the signs and symptoms of ear mites, and how to treat them.
Ignatius Harly Putranto / Getty Images
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What Do Ear Mites Look Like?
Otodectes cynotisis the most common species of ear mites. They are tiny, about the size of a pinhead,but they are visible to the naked eye.
However, considering they live inside your ears, it’s often difficult to see them yourself. A healthcare provider may need to view them with anotoscope, a tool that shines light into your ear to examine it.
What Causes Ear Mites in Humans
Since ear mites are common in cats and dogs and not in humans, transmission will most likely be from a pet. Close contact is necessary to pass the ear mites to a new host since they don’t jump or fly.
A common way ear mites can pass from animals to humans is from lying down or snuggling with a pet with an ear mite infestation.
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Signs and Symptoms of Ear Mites
Since the greatest likelihood of contracting ear mites is from pets, identifying symptoms of ear mites in pets is crucial in limiting exposure.
Telltale signs of ear mites in pets are:
In humans, common signs and symptoms of ear mite infestations are:
Ear mites can cause a lot of discomfort, ranging from pain and itching to infection and ear ringing. Untreated, it can lead to potential hearing problems.
How to Tell If You Have Ear Mites
Symptoms are one clue that you might have ear mites, but you can also identify them through visual examination. You’ll need the help of a healthcare provider (or veterinarian if you suspect them in your pet).
A vet will examine your pet’s ears for signs of ear mites, such as a dark discharge, redness, itching, and irritation. To confirm a diagnosis, a vet will swab your pet’s ears and examine the contents under a microscope.
In humans, diagnosis is made similarly. Your healthcare provider may refer you to anear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist(also called an otolaryngologist) with more experience and equipment for diagnosing and treating this ear condition. They will use an otoscope to examine your ear and observe symptoms of ear mites.
Ear Mite Treatment
Ear mites are harmful because, untreated, they can lead to infection and damage the ear. In both pets and humans, treatment is necessary.
As with pets, ear mite treatment consists of ear cleaning and medication to kill the mites. Once the ears are clean and the mites are gone, people and pets find relief from pain and itching.
Some treatment options for humans include:
How to Get Rid of Ear Mites in Your Home
Ear mites can travel from host to host during close contact, but can ear mites infest your house or live on your bed? Ear mites usually only survive for a few days outside of a host.
However, researchers have found that mites survive as long as 12 days in the right conditions. This includes if the temperature is lower than 57 degrees F and the humidity is between 58% and 83%.
Since this temperature and the humidity range are more common outdoors than in human homes, ear mites are unlikely to infest your home or bed. But taking precautions is still a good idea if you and your pets have them.
Try these tips for cleaning your home to slow transmission:
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How to Prevent Ear Mites in Humans
Tips and strategies to prevent ear mite infestation include:
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Summary
While ear mites are rare in humans, transmission between pets and humans can occur. If you notice your pet shaking its head, scratching its ears, or having a discharge that looks like coffee grounds from its ears, have your vet check it out as soon as possible. Preventing and treating pets' ear mites early is the best way to avoid contracting them yourself.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Abi-Akl P, Haddad G, Zaytoun G.Otoacariasis: An infestation of mites in the ear.Ann Clin Case Rep. 2017; 2: 1329.
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.Ear mites: Tiny critters that can pose a major threat.
Cakabay T, Gokdogan O, Kocyigit M.Human otoacariasis: Demographic and clinical outcomes in patients with ear-canal ticks and a review of literature.J Otol.2016 Sep;11(3):111-117. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2016.06.003
American Veterinary Medical Association.External parasites.
Fanelli A, Doménech G, Alonso F.Otodectes cynotis in urban and peri-urban semi-arid areas: a widespread parasite in the cat population.J Parasit Dis. 2020;44(2):481-485. doi:10.1007/s12639-020-01215-7
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