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fungus in ear canal
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General Health
Question #20935
45 days ago
104

fungus in ear canal - #20935

Saanvi

I am really freaking out about something that’s been happening with my ear. Like, I thought I was just dealing with a little itch, but then I started noticing this weird discharge. Then, of course, I jumped straight into googling and found stuff about fungus in ear canal and wow, it’s kinda scary! I’ve had some pain and occasional ringing, too. The discharge, I guess, gets worse when I try to clean it, which sounds dumb, but I didn’t know at first. I didn't go to the doctor immediately because I thought it might just be a typical ear infection or something, ya know? But after reading more, I really feel like I should be worried about fungus in ear canal. Can it get worse? 🙁 I mean, I really don’t wanna mess around with my hearing or feel pain like this for much longer. I also wonder, how common is fungus in ear canal infections? I’ve been using over-the-counter drops but they don't seem to help. Should I just go see a specialist now or wait a bit? I’m just stressed and don’t want it to spread or turn into something really bad, but I also don’t want to overreact. What do you all think?

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Doctors' responses

Fungal infections in the ear, known as otomycosis, aren’t super common but happens more than people usually think. They’re more likely in warm, humid environments, or if you’ve been swimming a lot. They’re less common than bacterial infections but still significant enough not to ignore. The symptoms you’re mentioning - itchiness, discharge, discomfort, and ringing (tinnitus) - fit with otomycosis, although other conditions could cause similar symptoms. The extra discharge when you try to clean could actually make things worse, as cleaning might push fungus further into the canal or disrupt the ear’s natural defense mechanisms. Over-the-counter drops often target bacterial infections, not fungal, which is probably why they’re not helping. Given the symptoms, it’s really advisable to consult a healthcare professional soon. While it might not feel like an emergency, untreated fungal infections have the potential to worsen and lead to complications like damage to the ear canal (and affect your hearing). An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or your primary care physician is the right person to help. They’ll likely do an examination to confirm the diagnosis, and if it is a fungal infection, they might prescribe antifungal ear drops or even clean the ear canal under microscopic guidance. Meanwhile, avoid getting further moisture into the ear and refrain from inserting anything (like q-tips) into the ear canal. Quick consultation reduces the risk of complications, so it’s a good step towards ensuring everything gets sorted effectively. Your health is important, and addressing the issue now is preferable to waiting and letting things escalate.

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