Ear fungus is an infection of the outer ear due to fungi, which cause ear infection, dry skin and a foul smell from the ear, and in this article we will talk about the causes of these fungi and how to treat them.

Causes of ear fungus

Ear fungus is caused by a variety of fungi, especially Aspergillus and Candida, and there are a number of reasons that increase the likelihood of infection with ear fungi, including the following:

• Accommodation in hot countries.
• Ear infection as a result of using earphones or cotton buds.
• Chronic skin diseases such as eczema.
• Diabetics.
• Participate in water sports such as swimming and surfing.
• Swimming in polluted water.
• Lack of earwax, which prevents the entry of bacteria and fungi into the ear.

Ear fungus symptoms

There are a number of symptoms that appear when infected with this type of fungus, including the following:

• feeling pain
• Inflammation or swelling.
• Tinnitus.
• flushing;
• Peeling of the skin around the ear.
• ear itch
• ear blockage
• Hearing problems, which may amount to temporary hearing loss.
• Fluid discharge from the ear, which may be white, yellow, green, gray or black.

Is ear fungus dangerous?

This type of fungi does not often cause serious complications, and the following complications are rare as a result of infection with these fungi:

• perforation of the eardrum;
• hearing loss.
• Inflammation of the temporal bone around the skull, or of the bones around the ear.
• Brain inflammation.

ear fungus treatment

The treatment of these fungi depends on a number of means, which are determined by the specialist doctor, including the following:

1. Ear cleaning

The ear is cleaned in the doctor’s office, by washing the ear or using a means to suction any of the accumulated materials inside the ear, then the ear is dried well to prevent the growth of more fungi, and this step helps to enhance the ability of the treatment prescribed by the doctor to get rid of these fungi.

2. Ear drops and topical creams

The doctor may prescribe antifungal ear drops, or he may prescribe some topical creams on the outer ear, which contain substances, such as salicylic acid and hydrogen peroxide, that help treat the fungus.

3. Oral medications

In the case of severe infection and the ineffectiveness of topical creams, the doctor prescribes some oral medications, and these drugs should not be taken without consulting the doctor, because they may pose health problems for liver patients.

Ear fungus prevention

There are some tips that can be followed, to avoid infection with this fungus, which are:

• Do not over-clean the earwax, which prevents infection from fungi.
• Dry the ears after showering or swimming.
• Use earplugs when swimming.
• Avoid scratching the skin inside and outside the ear.
• Avoid using cotton buds inside the ear.

After identifying the causes of ear fungus and how to treat it, you can follow the tips that we mentioned in the article, to prevent infection with these fungi as much as possible.