Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T13:17:32.722Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Prevalence of otomycosis in Khouzestan Province, south-west Iran

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2012

N Saki ,
A Rafiei ,
S Nikakhlagh ,
N Amirrajab  and
S Saki
N Saki
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
A Rafiei
Affiliation:
Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
S Nikakhlagh*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
N Amirrajab
Affiliation:
Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
S Saki
Affiliation:
Medical Student, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (International Branch), Iran
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Soheila Nikakhlagh, Department of ENT, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Fax: +98 611 291838 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of otomycosis and aetiological agents in Khouzestan province, south-west Iran.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study examined and cultured 881 swabs from suspected external otitis cases, collected from throughout Khouzestan province. Fungal agents were identified by slide culture and complementary tests when necessary.

Results:

The mean patient age was 37 years. The 20–39 year age group had the highest prevalence of otomycosis: 293 cases, comprising 162 (55.3 per cent) women and 131 (44.7 per cent) men. The seasonal distribution of cases was: summer, 44.7 per cent; autumn, 28.7 per cent; winter, 14.7 per cent; and spring, 11.9 per cent. The fungal agents isolated were Aspergillus niger (67.2 per cent), Aspergillus flavus (13 per cent), Candida albicans (11.6 per cent), Aspergillus fumigatus (6.2 per cent) and penicillium species (2 per cent).

Conclusion:

Fungal otomycosis is still one of the most important external ear diseases. In this study in south-west Iran, Aspergillus niger was the predominant aetiological agent. However, clinicians should be cautious of candidal otomycosis, which has a lower rate of incidence but is more prevalent among 20–39 year olds.

Keywords

External Ear CanalFungusPrevalenceIran
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 127 , Issue 1 , January 2013 , pp. 25 - 27
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Flint, PW, Haughey, BH, Lund, VJ, Niparko, JK. Infections of the external ear. In: Cummings, CW, ed. Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, 4th edn. Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2005;972–4Google Scholar
2 Kurnatowski, P, Filipiak, A. Otomycosis: prevalence, clinical symptoms, therapeutic procedure. Mycoses 2001;44:472–9Google Scholar
3 Lee, KJ. Infection of the ear. In: Lee, KJ, ed. Essential Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. New York: McGraw Hill, 2003;462–511 Google Scholar
4 Wang, MC, Liu, CY, Shiao, AS, Wang, T. Ear problems in swimmers. J Chin Med Assoc 2005;68:347–52Google Scholar
5 Kaushik, V, Malik, T, Saeed, SR. Interventions for acute otitis externa. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010;(1):CD004740Google Scholar
6 Yamashita, M, Hashimoto, S, Ezaki, M, Iwami, M, Komori, T, Kohsaka, M et al. A novel penicillin with b-lactamase inhibitory activity. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 1983;36:1774–6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7 Fasunla, J, Ibebwe, T, Onakoya, P. Otomycosis in western Nigeria. Mycoses 2007;51:67–70 Google Scholar
8 Jadhav, VJ, Pal, M, Mishra, GS. Etiological significance of candida albicans in otitis externa. Mycopathologia 2003;156:313–15Google Scholar
9 Paulose, KO, Al Khalifa, S, Shenoy, P, Sharma, RK. Mycotic infection of the ear (otomycosis): a prospective study. J Laryngol Otol 1989;103:30–35 Google Scholar
10 Gugnani, HC, Okafor, BC, Nzelibe, F, Njoku-Obi, AN. Etiological agents of otomycosis in Nigeria. Mycoses 1989;32:224–9Google Scholar
11 Donamayor Hernandez, C. Ear infections by Aspergillus [in Spanish]. An Otorrinolaringol Ibero Am 1990;17:535–44Google Scholar
12 Burgos, SA, Menaches, GM, Gras, AJ, Talavera, SJ. Descriptive study of infectious ear disease in relation to summer [in Spanish]. Acta Otorrinolaryngol Esp 2000;51:19–24 Google Scholar
13 Nwabuisi, C, Ologe, FE. The fungal profile of otomycosis patients in Ilorin, Nigeria. Niger J Med 2001;10:124–6Google ScholarPubMed
14 Loh, KS, Tan, KK, Kumarasinghe, G, Leong, HK, Yeoh, KH. Otitis externa: the clinical pattern in a tertiary institution in Singapore. Ann Acad Med Singapore 1998;27:215–18Google Scholar
15 Egami, T, Noguchi, M, Ueda, S. Mycosis in the ear, nose and throat [in Japanese]. Nippon Ishinkin Gakkai Zasshi 2003;44:277–83CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16 Mishra, GS, Mehta, N, Pal, M. Chronic bilateral otomycosis caused by Aspergillus niger . Mycoses 2004;47:82–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17 Munguia, R, Daniel, SJ. Ototopical antifungals and otomycosis: a review. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2008;72:453–9Google Scholar
18 Martin, TJ, Kerschner, JE, Flanary, VA. Fungal causes of otitis externa and tympanostomy tube otorrhea. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2005;69:1503–8Google Scholar
19 Pradhan, B, Tuladhar, NR, Amatya, RM. Prevalence of otomycosis in outpatient department of otolaryngology in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. Ann Rhinol Laryngol 2003;112:384–7Google Scholar
20 Yehia, MM, Al-Habib, HM, Shehab, NM. Otomycosis: a common problem in north Iraq. J Laryngol Otol 1999;104:387–9Google Scholar
21 Fasunla, J, Ibekwe, T, Onakoya, P. Otomycosis in western Nigeria. Mycoses 2007;51:67–70 Google Scholar
22 Ologe, FE, Nwabuisi, C. Treatment outcome of otomycosis in Ilorin, Nigeria. West Afr J Med 2002;21:34–6Google ScholarPubMed
23 Brobby, GW. The discharging ear in the tropics: a guide to diagnosis and management in the district hospital. Trop Doct 1992;22:10–13 Google Scholar
24 Kazemi, AH, Ghiaei, S. Survey of otomycosis in north-western area of Iran, 1997–2004. Medical Journal of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences 2009;52:233–8Google Scholar
25 Shokoohi, T, Ahanjan, M, Kasiri, AM. Bacteriological and mycological study of external otitis in patients referred to ENT clinic of Boo Ali Sina Hospital in Sari in summer 1999. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences 2001;32:1–10 Google Scholar
26 Sefidgar, AA, Kiakojouri, K, Mirzaei, M, Sharifi, F. Fungal infections of external ear canal in patients with otomycosis. Babol Journal of Babol University of Medical Sciences 2002;13:29–5Google Scholar