Otomycosis: a retrospective study.
Otomycosis is a fungal infection of the external ear canal with only a few studies about its real frequency in Brazil.


OBJECTIVE
to evaluate otomycosis frequency and characteristics in patients with clinical suspicion of external otitis.


METHODS
Retrospective study with transversal cohort (2000-2006).


METHODS
103 patients were assigned to mycological diagnosis (direct microscopic examination and culture).


RESULTS
Otomycosis was diagnosed in 19.4% of the patients. Patient age varied from 2 to 66 years (an average of 23.5 years of age), and 60% of otomycosis cases were seen in women between 2 to 20 years of age. Chronic otitis, previous antibiotic therapy and the lack of cerumen were predisposing factors; itching, otalgia, otorrhea and hypoacusis were the symptoms reported by the patients. The most frequently isolated species were C. albicans (30%), C. parapsilosis (20%), A. niger (20%), A. flavus (10%), A. fumigatus (5%), C. tropicalis (5%), Trichosporon asahii (5%) and Scedosporium apiospermum (5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Otomycosis is endemic in João Pessoa-PB. Clinical exam and mycological studies are important for diagnostic purposes because otomycosis symptoms are not specific.
Pontes
Zélia Braz Vieira da Silva
ZB
Silva
Anna Débora Ferreira
AD
Lima
Edeltrudes de Oliveira
Ede O
Guerra
Márcio de Holanda
Mde H
Oliveira
Neuza Maria Cavalcanti
NM
Carvalho
Maria de Fátima Farias Peixoto
Mde F
Guerra
Felipe Sarmento Queiroga
FS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult