Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsPreventionCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
Prevention
Coping
This article will go over what causes a fungal ear infection, what the symptoms are, how it’s diagnosed, and how it can be treated and prevented.
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Fungal Ear Infection Symptoms
A fungal ear infection can affect the outer ear canal as well as the parts of the outer ear: the tragus, helix, and lobule (earlobe).
Symptoms of a fungal ear infection include:
Your ears may also get red, swollen, and inflamed. The skin of your affected ear may become flaky.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderFungal ear infections are not likely to go away without treatment. If you experience any symptoms, you should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Fungal ear infections are not likely to go away without treatment. If you experience any symptoms, you should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
The cause of a fungal ear infection is a fungus. There are many different kinds of fungi that can infect the ear, but the two most common areCandidaandAspergillus.
Candidacauses most yeast infections.Aspergilluscan lead to allergic reactions, lung infections, and infections in other organs.
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Although people come into contact with fungi on a regular—even daily—basis, most do not have any health problems related to fungus. However, people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get fungal infections.
How Common Are Fungal Ear Infections?They are thought to affect up to 10% of the population at some point in their lives, and most cases appear in adults in their 30s.
How Common Are Fungal Ear Infections?
They are thought to affect up to 10% of the population at some point in their lives, and most cases appear in adults in their 30s.
Health Conditions
Having certain health conditions can increase your chances of getting a fungal ear infection, including:
Other Causes and Risk Factors
Research has shown that some lifestyle or geographical factors may also play a role in who gets fungal ear infections.
For example, because fungi thrive in warm and damp places, people living in tropical climates where humidity is high are likely to be more at risk for fungal ear infections.
Other factors that can increase the risk of a fungal ear infection include:
The Number One Risk Factor for a Fungal Ear InfectionResearch has shown that the most common risk factor for fungal ear infections is the habit of cleaning the ears with cotton swabs, wooden sticks, or metal picks.
The Number One Risk Factor for a Fungal Ear Infection
Research has shown that the most common risk factor for fungal ear infections is the habit of cleaning the ears with cotton swabs, wooden sticks, or metal picks.
They will also do a physical exam using an otoscope, a lighted device used to get a better look inside the ear. They will look for signs of infection in the ear canal and eardrum.
If your ear has fluid, discharge, or any other type of buildup in it, your provider will take a sample and send it to a lab. This testing helps them find out whether the ear infection is bacterial or fungal.
Both infections have similar symptoms, but knowing what is causing the ear infection will make treatment more effective.
More involved tests like cultures are often not needed because fungal infections usually look a certain way.
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There are many treatments for fungal ear infections, but the one that’s right for you depends on your health and how serious the infection is.
Cleaning
The first step in the treatment of a fungal ear infection is clearing debris out of the ear. There are different tools a provider can use, including a rinse or a suction tool.
Clearing out your ear makes sure that the medication can do its job. Once your provider removes the buildup in the ear, they will clean and dry your ear to help prevent the overgrowth of fungus from coming back.
Ear Drops
Antifungal ear drops for fungal ear infections are usually clotrimazole.
However, other types of medications such as econazole, miconazole, and amphotericin B can also be used.
Clotrimazole is effective at both curing the infection and preventing it from coming back.
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Topical Medications
If the infection is affecting the inside of the outer ear and the external parts, an antifungal topical ointment can help clear up the fungus and reduce symptoms.
Topical medications for these infections include clotrimazole, fluconazole, and ketoconazole.
Research has shown that solutions with 10 cubic centimeters (cc) of 2% acetic acid plus 90 cc of 70% isopropyl alcohol might effectively treat a fungal ear infection.
Oral Medications
If a fungal ear infection does not get better with topical treatments or ear drops, your provider may prescribe an oral medication, especially ifAspergillusis causing the infection.Research has shown that this type of fungus might be resistant to azole compounds.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help with the pain and inflammation of a fungal ear infection.
Oral prescription medications are usually needed if the infection is severe or takes longer than expected to heal.
The length of treatment for a fungal ear infection can last up to four weeks. During this time, your symptoms will continue to improve while the medications work to clear up the infection.
A fungal ear infection is not usually a serious condition, but there are some rare cases where it can lead to complications including:
Although complications are rare, they can be serious or even life-threatening. If you think you have a fungal ear infection, see your provider to get diagnosed and start treatment as soon as possible to prevent these complications.
The best ways to prevent a fungal ear infection are:
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A fungal ear infection can be uncomfortable but is usually temporary. Once you see your provider and get diagnosed and start treatment, you should start feeling better.
In addition to taking any medications your provider has given you and OTC remedies for pain, you might want to try some simple home remedies, like a warm compress, to relieve discomfort.
Summary
You can’t always prevent a fungal ear infection but not using anything in your ear (like a cotton swab) and making sure your ears stay dry and clean will help.
If you have symptoms of a fungal ear infection, you need to see a healthcare provider for treatment. While you wait for the infection to clear up with treatment, you might be able to manage the discomfort at home with OTC pain relievers.
10 SourcesVerywell 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.Anwar K, Gohar MS.Otomycosis; clinical features, predisposing factors and treatment implications.Pak J Med Sci.2014 May;30(3):564-567. doi:10.12669/pjms.303.4106Viswanatha B, Naseeruddin K.Fungal infections of the ear in immunocompromised host: a review.Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis.2011;3(1):e2011003. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2011.003Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Aspergillosis.Gharaghani M, Seifi Z, Zarei Mahmoudabadi A.Otomycosis in iran: a review.Mycopathologia.2015 Jun;179(5-6):415-424. doi:10.1007/s11046-015-9864-7Aremu SK, Adewoye KR, Ibrahim T.A Prospective Analysis of Otomycosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital.Int J Trop Dis.2020 April 8;3(1):1-8. doi:10.23937/2643-461X/1710029Li Y, He L.Diagnosis and treatment of otomycosis in southern China.Mycoses.2019 Nov;62(11):1064-1068. doi:10.1111/myc.12979Navaneethan N, YaadhavaKrishnan RP.Type of Antifungals: Does it Matter in Empirical Treatment of Otomycosis?Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2015 Mar;67(1):64-67. doi:10.1007/s12070-014-0780-9Lee A, Tysome JR, Saeed SR.Topical azole treatments for otomycosis.Cochrane Database of Syst Rev.2011 Sept;(9):1-9. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009289Ismail MT, Al-Kafri A, Ismail M.Otomycosis in Damascus, Syria: Etiology and clinical features.Curr Med Mycol.2017 Sep;3(3):27-30. doi:10.29252/cmm.3.3.27Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antifungal-resistant Aspergillus.
10 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.Anwar K, Gohar MS.Otomycosis; clinical features, predisposing factors and treatment implications.Pak J Med Sci.2014 May;30(3):564-567. doi:10.12669/pjms.303.4106Viswanatha B, Naseeruddin K.Fungal infections of the ear in immunocompromised host: a review.Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis.2011;3(1):e2011003. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2011.003Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Aspergillosis.Gharaghani M, Seifi Z, Zarei Mahmoudabadi A.Otomycosis in iran: a review.Mycopathologia.2015 Jun;179(5-6):415-424. doi:10.1007/s11046-015-9864-7Aremu SK, Adewoye KR, Ibrahim T.A Prospective Analysis of Otomycosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital.Int J Trop Dis.2020 April 8;3(1):1-8. doi:10.23937/2643-461X/1710029Li Y, He L.Diagnosis and treatment of otomycosis in southern China.Mycoses.2019 Nov;62(11):1064-1068. doi:10.1111/myc.12979Navaneethan N, YaadhavaKrishnan RP.Type of Antifungals: Does it Matter in Empirical Treatment of Otomycosis?Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2015 Mar;67(1):64-67. doi:10.1007/s12070-014-0780-9Lee A, Tysome JR, Saeed SR.Topical azole treatments for otomycosis.Cochrane Database of Syst Rev.2011 Sept;(9):1-9. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009289Ismail MT, Al-Kafri A, Ismail M.Otomycosis in Damascus, Syria: Etiology and clinical features.Curr Med Mycol.2017 Sep;3(3):27-30. doi:10.29252/cmm.3.3.27Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antifungal-resistant Aspergillus.
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.
Anwar K, Gohar MS.Otomycosis; clinical features, predisposing factors and treatment implications.Pak J Med Sci.2014 May;30(3):564-567. doi:10.12669/pjms.303.4106Viswanatha B, Naseeruddin K.Fungal infections of the ear in immunocompromised host: a review.Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis.2011;3(1):e2011003. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2011.003Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Aspergillosis.Gharaghani M, Seifi Z, Zarei Mahmoudabadi A.Otomycosis in iran: a review.Mycopathologia.2015 Jun;179(5-6):415-424. doi:10.1007/s11046-015-9864-7Aremu SK, Adewoye KR, Ibrahim T.A Prospective Analysis of Otomycosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital.Int J Trop Dis.2020 April 8;3(1):1-8. doi:10.23937/2643-461X/1710029Li Y, He L.Diagnosis and treatment of otomycosis in southern China.Mycoses.2019 Nov;62(11):1064-1068. doi:10.1111/myc.12979Navaneethan N, YaadhavaKrishnan RP.Type of Antifungals: Does it Matter in Empirical Treatment of Otomycosis?Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2015 Mar;67(1):64-67. doi:10.1007/s12070-014-0780-9Lee A, Tysome JR, Saeed SR.Topical azole treatments for otomycosis.Cochrane Database of Syst Rev.2011 Sept;(9):1-9. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009289Ismail MT, Al-Kafri A, Ismail M.Otomycosis in Damascus, Syria: Etiology and clinical features.Curr Med Mycol.2017 Sep;3(3):27-30. doi:10.29252/cmm.3.3.27Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antifungal-resistant Aspergillus.
Anwar K, Gohar MS.Otomycosis; clinical features, predisposing factors and treatment implications.Pak J Med Sci.2014 May;30(3):564-567. doi:10.12669/pjms.303.4106
Viswanatha B, Naseeruddin K.Fungal infections of the ear in immunocompromised host: a review.Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis.2011;3(1):e2011003. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2011.003
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Aspergillosis.
Gharaghani M, Seifi Z, Zarei Mahmoudabadi A.Otomycosis in iran: a review.Mycopathologia.2015 Jun;179(5-6):415-424. doi:10.1007/s11046-015-9864-7
Aremu SK, Adewoye KR, Ibrahim T.A Prospective Analysis of Otomycosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital.Int J Trop Dis.2020 April 8;3(1):1-8. doi:10.23937/2643-461X/1710029
Li Y, He L.Diagnosis and treatment of otomycosis in southern China.Mycoses.2019 Nov;62(11):1064-1068. doi:10.1111/myc.12979
Navaneethan N, YaadhavaKrishnan RP.Type of Antifungals: Does it Matter in Empirical Treatment of Otomycosis?Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2015 Mar;67(1):64-67. doi:10.1007/s12070-014-0780-9
Lee A, Tysome JR, Saeed SR.Topical azole treatments for otomycosis.Cochrane Database of Syst Rev.2011 Sept;(9):1-9. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009289
Ismail MT, Al-Kafri A, Ismail M.Otomycosis in Damascus, Syria: Etiology and clinical features.Curr Med Mycol.2017 Sep;3(3):27-30. doi:10.29252/cmm.3.3.27
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antifungal-resistant Aspergillus.
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