{"title":"Aetiological Profile, Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Otomycosis in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Zephania Saitabau Abraham","doi":"10.1007/s12070-024-04800-x","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Otomycosis is a commonly encountered otological disorder in otorhinolaryngology practice. It has several predisposing factors such as habitual use of cotton buds, water in the ear, hot humid atmospheric condition or high temperature. Diagnosis of otomycosis frequently relies on the patient's history, otoscopic examination and ascertained clinical features and therefore posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Data on otomycosis in Tanzania are scarce. A hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a private hospital from January to June 2022 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. All the clinically diagnosed cases were enrolled in the study with typical symptoms and characteristic fungal debris in the external auditory canal. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23. A total of 250 patients were recruited in this study. Majority were females, 153(81.2%) while males were 97(38.8%). Otomycosis was found to be predominantly unilateral in 203 (81.2%) patients. The commonest presenting complaint was ear itching (94.0%) followed by earache (78.6%), hearing loss (75.6%), ear fullness (74.4%), ear discharge (61.2%) and ringing sensation (14.0%). Based on the type of fungal debris on Otoendoscopy, whitish debris was more predominant in 191 (76.4%) patients followed by yellowish debris, 37 (14.8%), blackish debris, 15 (6.0%) and mixed (whitish-black) debris in 7 (2.8%) patients. The commonest risk factor was earbud use (40.8%) and the least one was comorbid conditions (4.4%). Females were more affected by otomycosis. The commonest otological complaint was ear itching while the least one was ringing sensation. Unilateral presentation of otomycosis predominated and the left ear was more affected. The commonest type of fungal debris was whitish debris and the least one was the mixed type (whitish-black). The commonest risk factor for otomycosis was earbud use and the least was comorbid conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":49190,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11456117/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-024-04800-x","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/6/19 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"SURGERY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Otomycosis is a commonly encountered otological disorder in otorhinolaryngology practice. It has several predisposing factors such as habitual use of cotton buds, water in the ear, hot humid atmospheric condition or high temperature. Diagnosis of otomycosis frequently relies on the patient's history, otoscopic examination and ascertained clinical features and therefore posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Data on otomycosis in Tanzania are scarce. A hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a private hospital from January to June 2022 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. All the clinically diagnosed cases were enrolled in the study with typical symptoms and characteristic fungal debris in the external auditory canal. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23. A total of 250 patients were recruited in this study. Majority were females, 153(81.2%) while males were 97(38.8%). Otomycosis was found to be predominantly unilateral in 203 (81.2%) patients. The commonest presenting complaint was ear itching (94.0%) followed by earache (78.6%), hearing loss (75.6%), ear fullness (74.4%), ear discharge (61.2%) and ringing sensation (14.0%). Based on the type of fungal debris on Otoendoscopy, whitish debris was more predominant in 191 (76.4%) patients followed by yellowish debris, 37 (14.8%), blackish debris, 15 (6.0%) and mixed (whitish-black) debris in 7 (2.8%) patients. The commonest risk factor was earbud use (40.8%) and the least one was comorbid conditions (4.4%). Females were more affected by otomycosis. The commonest otological complaint was ear itching while the least one was ringing sensation. Unilateral presentation of otomycosis predominated and the left ear was more affected. The commonest type of fungal debris was whitish debris and the least one was the mixed type (whitish-black). The commonest risk factor for otomycosis was earbud use and the least was comorbid conditions.
期刊介绍：
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery was founded as Indian Journal of Otolaryngology in 1949 as a scientific Journal published by the Association of Otolaryngologists of India and was later rechristened as IJOHNS to incorporate the changes and progress.
IJOHNS, undoubtedly one of the oldest Journals in India, is the official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India and is about to publish it is 67th Volume in 2015. The Journal published quarterly accepts articles in general Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and various subspecialities such as Otology, Rhinology, Laryngology and Phonosurgery, Neurotology, Head and Neck Surgery etc.
The Journal acts as a window to showcase and project the clinical and research work done by Otolaryngologists community in India and around the world. It is a continued source of useful clinical information with peer review by eminent Otolaryngologists of repute in their respective fields. The Journal accepts articles pertaining to clinical reports, Clinical studies, Research articles in basic and applied Otolaryngology, short Communications, Clinical records reporting unusual presentations or lesions and new surgical techniques. The journal acts as a catalyst and mirrors the Indian Otolaryngologist’s active interests and pursuits. The Journal also invites articles from senior and experienced authors on interesting topics in Otolaryngology and allied sciences from all over the world.
The print version is distributed free to about 4000 members of Association of Otolaryngologists of India and the e-Journal shortly going to make its appearance on the Springer Board can be accessed by all the members.
Association of Otolaryngologists of India and M/s Springer India group have come together to co-publish IJOHNS from January 2007 and this bondage is going to provide an impetus to the Journal in terms of international presence and global exposure.
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