Otomycosis: a survey in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia

Authors:
  • AYA. Yassin
    A. Yassin
  • AMA. Maher
    A. Maher
  • MMM. K. Moawad
    M. K. Moawad
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Abstract
The Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is characterized by a high perennial relative humidity and atmospheric pressure. One hundred and forty-eight cases clinically suspected for being otomycotic were examined by culture over 13 mo.; 120 gave positive results and yielded 131 fungal isolates, of which 110 were single infections and 10 mixed infections of 2 or more fungi. Aspergillus niger was the most common (51.15%), then A. flavus (18.32%), Penicillium notatum (5.34%), Candida albicans and A. terreus (each 4.58%), A. candidus (3.82%), Mucor sp. (2.29%), Alternaria sp. and A. clavatus (each 1.53%) and A. versicolor (0.76%). The patients were of 13 different nationalities, mostly laborers and people of low socio-economic standard. Males were affected more than females and ages ranged from 2-58 yr. Racial factors, sex and age have no bearing on otomycosis. Only 8 of the 120 positive cases were affected bilaterally. The role of relative humidity and high atmospheric pressure was briefly discussed.

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