Sixty two strains of 47 otomycosis cases and 126 strains of fungi from 91 normal external auditory canal were isolated from the outpatients who have visited the E.N.T. clinic of Kyungpook National University Hospital from January to July 1972. Clinical and mycological findings were observed as following.
1) The ratio of otomycosis was 1. 7% among all the E.N.T. cases, 2.3% among all the ear disease, cases and frequent among adult (83.0%) and male (97.9%). Most cases were attributed to trauma at the barber (83.0%) or by themselves (48. 9%) and all cases have had the history of scratch individually. °Many cases have complained of itching (83.0%), recurred hard wax´ (80.9%) and obstruction sensation of the ear (48.9%).
2) The distribution of 4ungal flora among normal external auditory, canal were as follows.
Aspergillus 55 strains (43.7%)
Penicillium 37 strains (29.4%)
Alternaria 11 strains (8.7%)
Others 15 genera
Among the aspergillus, 9 strains (16.4%) of aspergillus terreus, 19 strains (34.5%) of aspergillus versicolor and 14 strains (25.5%) of aspergillus oryzae were indentified and rest of them were aspergillus fumigatus, aspergillus niger and aspergillus ochraceus.
3) Fungal flora of otomycosis was confined to aspergillus predominantly i.e. 58 strains (93.500) and rest of them were 4 strains of penicillium.
Among the aspergillus 52 strains (89.7%) were aspergillus terreus and few of aspergillus oryzae, aspergillus versicolor and aspergillus ochraceus were included.
4) It can be reasonably assumed that aspergillus terreus is considered as pathogenic strains in otomycosis in view of the following results:
a) The large proportion of aspergillus (93.5%) is consist of aspergillus terreus (89. 7%) in otomycosis.
b) The growth rate and colonial morphology of aspergillus terreus were much slower comparing to the strains isolated from normal cases.
5) Isolated strains were sensitive uniformly against the following concentration of therapeutic agents.
0. 02% phenylmercuric acetate
2.0% thymol alcohol (70%)
1.0% gentiana violet Boric acid 2.0% salicylic acid alcohol (70%) 1.0% caromel alcohol (70%)
Especially 0.02% phenylmercuric acetate was a drug for choice for topical use as no irritation on the local area.
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