Fungal ear infections, known as otomycosis or swimmer's ear, particularly affect the ear canal. Otomycosis accounts for 7% of all disorders that are diagnosed as otitis externa or inflammation and infection of the ear canal. Otomycosis develops mainly due to the fungal species Candida and Aspergillus, but is often confused with bacterial otitis, which leads doctors to treat the bacteria by mistakenly prescribing antibiotics. However, since this class of drugs does not fight fungal infections, there is no improvement. Subsequently, your doctor can recommend various home treatments or prescribe specific drug treatments for fungi.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Symptoms
Step 1. Recognize abnormal itchy ear
It is quite normal for an ear to itch at times, as the hundreds of tiny hairs on and inside the ear can be a bit ticklish. But if the ear is constantly itchy without it being possible to find relief by scratching or rubbing it, then it could be a fungal infection. This is usually the first symptom that occurs when you are affected by otomycosis.
Step 2. Identify ear pain (ear pain)
Since this type of infection almost always takes place in one ear or the other, the pain is often localized only in one place. Sometimes the pain is described as "pressure" or "feeling of fullness", it can be moderate or even severe and usually intensifies if you touch the ear.
Step 3. Check for secretions (otorrhea)
During a mycosis there is the presence of purulent material that comes out of the ear; usually it is a clear thick liquid, white or yellowish and sometimes bloody and foul-smelling. But be careful not to confuse this material with the ear wax that normally forms in the ears. Take a cotton swab and pat your ear. You should find a normal amount of ear wax, but if you feel it is abnormal in quantity or color, you may have a fungal infection.
Step 4. Check if you have lost your hearing
In case of otomycosis you may find that you hear voices and sounds in a muffled way, you may have difficulty understanding words and hearing consonants. Sometimes, people find it easier to understand that they have lost their hearing from a change in their behavior. Frustration increases when one is unable to hear well, so many times the person tends to avoid conversations and social gatherings.
Method 2 of 3: Medications
Step 1. Know when to see your doctor
If you have an ear infection, it is wise to go to your doctor so that he can make an accurate diagnosis and find the therapy that is best suited to your specific situation. If you experience severe pain, have partially lost your hearing, or otherwise have other unusual symptoms, you should contact your doctor.
- The doctor may clean the ear canal thoroughly using a suction instrument and then provide medications to treat the infection;
- Your doctor may also recommend over-the-counter pain relievers or prescribe stronger medications if the pain is more severe.
Step 2. Take clotrimazole to treat fungal infection
Clotrimazole 1% solution is the most widely used antifungal drug that is prescribed by doctors to treat this type of ailment. The active ingredient is able to kill both the Candida fungus and Aspergillus. This drug works by inhibiting the enzyme used by the fungus to convert ergosterol, which is essential for maintaining the integrity of the fungus membrane. With clotrimazole, fungal growth is inhibited precisely through the reduction of ergosterol levels.
- Be aware of the side effects of this drug, which can be ear irritation, burning or discomfort.
- To apply clotrimazole, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water. Clean the ear with warm water, until it eliminates any visible traces of secretion, and pat it dry gently with a clean cloth. Do not rub the liquid left on the outside too hard, otherwise you could aggravate the situation.
- Lie down or tilt your head to one side to expose the infected ear canal. Try to straighten the duct by pulling the lobe down and then back. Apply 2 or 3 drops of clotrimazole to the inside of the ear, keeping the tilted position for 2 to 3 minutes so that the solution can reach the infected area. When finished, tilt your head away to drain the medication into a tissue.
- Put the cap back on the medicine bottle and store it in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children. Do not leave it in direct sunlight or near heat sources.
- If clotrimazole is not effective in relieving ear pain, your doctor may decide to try a different antifungal agent, such as miconazole.
Step 3. Get a prescription for fluconazole (Diflucan)
If the infection is quite severe, your doctor may prescribe this drug, which works in a similar way to clotrimazole. The most common side effects are headaches, nausea, abdominal pain, skin rashes and an increase in liver enzymes.
Fluconazole is taken in capsules. A 200 mg dose is usually prescribed to be taken on the first day and then 100 mg daily doses for the next 3-5 days
Step 4. Avoid antibiotics
These drugs are only effective in cases of bacterial infections and do not fight fungal ones.
Antibiotics could even aggravate the fungal infection, as they can potentially kill the good bacteria in the ear or elsewhere in the body - the very ones that are fighting mycosis
Step 5. Get your doctor to follow up
You will need to make another appointment after a week to see if the treatment is working. If not, your doctor might consider a different treatment.
Also be sure to call your doctor if your symptoms worsen or don't improve
Method 3 of 3: Home Remedies
Step 1. Use hydrogen peroxide
Put 2-3 drops of hydrogen peroxide in the ear using a dropper. Let the solution sit inside the canal for 5 to 10 minutes and then tilt your head to allow for drainage. This remedy helps to soften any caked or hardened residue in the ear canal by washing away the fungal colonies from the ear.
Step 2. Use a hair dryer
Set it to the lowest possible temperature and power and bring it about 10 inches from the infected ear. This method allows you to dry the moisture present in the ear canal, thus hindering the proliferation of fungi.
Be very careful not to burn yourself
Step 3. Apply a warm compress
Get a clean towel and soak it in warm water. Make sure the towel isn't too hot. Place it on your infected ear and wait until it turns cold. By doing this, you reduce pain without having to take pain medication. It also stimulates blood circulation in the area, which helps it heal faster.
Step 4. Make a solution of alcohol and apple cider vinegar
Mix these two ingredients in a 1: 1 ratio and with a dropper put a few drops inside the ear. Let the solution sit for 10 minutes and then tilt your head away to allow the mixture to drain. You can repeat the procedure every 4 hours for up to 2 weeks.
- Alcohol is a drying agent that removes the moisture present in the ear canal, responsible for the fungal infection; it also disinfects the skin. The acidity of the vinegar slows down fungal growth, as both Candida and Aspergillus prefer an "alkaline" environment to thrive.
- This solution disinfects and dries the ear at the same time, reducing the duration of the infection.
Step 5. Eat foods rich in vitamin C
Vitamin C is essential for the growth and repair of tissues damaged by the fungal infection. It also helps the body to produce collagen, a protein essential for the regeneration of the skin, cartilage and blood vessels. Doctors usually recommend taking supplements of 500-1000 mg per day to be taken with meals.
Excellent food sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits (oranges, limes and lemons), berries (blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries), pineapple, watermelon, papaya, broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower
Step 6. Use garlic oil
Take some garlic oil tablets, break them and pour the liquid into the infected ear. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then tilt your head to let it out. You can repeat the process every day for up to two weeks. Some studies have found that garlic oil is effective against Aspergillus (one of the two main fungi responsible for the infection).
In addition, this remedy has also been found to treat mycosis in a similar (or better) way to that of some prescription drugs
Step 7. Use olive oil to clean the ear
With an ongoing fungal infection, a whitish or yellow discharge may come out of the ear and more ear wax than usual may form. All of this could obstruct the Eustachian tube. Olive oil has proven to be perfect for softening ear wax.
