Management of Otomycosis in Pregnancy: A Case Study

Authors

  • Fierda Ovita Azhari Tangerang City General Hospital, Tangerang, Banten
  • Gustav Syukrinto Tangerang City General Hospital, Tangerang, Banten

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59141/-.v8i1.504

Keywords:

Otitis Externa, Otomycosis, Fungal infection, Pregnancy, Treatment

Abstract

Otomycosis is a fungal infection of the external auditory canal that commonly occurs in tropical and humid regions such as Indonesia. Pregnancy is a unique physiological condition characterized by hormonal and immunological changes that may increase susceptibility to fungal infections while simultaneously limiting therapeutic options due to concerns regarding fetal safety. This report details the clinical management of a 25-year-old pregnant patient (G1P0A0) at 24 weeks gestation who presented with complaints of severe pruritus and aural fullness in the right ear.  Clinical examination revealed characteristic fungal debris with a "white fluffy" appearance. Management included aural toilet followed by the topical solution, a treatment selected for its high efficacy and established safety during pregnancy. The successful resolution of the infection without maternal or fetal complications reinforces the efficacy of combined mechanical debridement and topical therapy. This case underscores the importance of specialized ENT care in secondary referral hospitals for managing infections in high-risk populations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Anwar, K., & Gohar, M. S. (2014). Otomycosis; clinical features, predisposing factors and treatment implications. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 30(3), 564–567. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.303.4106

Abraham, Z. S., Mwanga, P., Massawe, E. R., Gilyoma, J. M., & Chalya, P. L. (2025). Otorhinological disorders among pregnant women attending the obstetric clinic at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, Tanzania. Nigerian Medical Journal, 65(6), 899–910. https://doi.org/10.60787/nmj-v65i6.415

Bojanović, M. (2023). Etiology, predisposing factors, clinical features and diagnostic procedure of otomycosis: A literature review. Journal of Fungi, 9(6), 662. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9060662

Jamwal, S., Kalsotra, G., Manhas, M., Raina, A., Kalsotra, P., Ul Islam, O., & Younis, Y. (2021). A study on otorhinolaryngological manifestations in pregnant women. International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 7(12), 1889–1894. https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20214680

Jick, S. S. (1999). Pregnancy outcomes after maternal exposure to fluconazole. Pharmacotherapy, 19(2), 221–222.

Kiakojori, K., Bagherpour Jamnani, N., Khafri, S., & Mahdavi Omran, S. (2018). Assessment of response to treatment in patients with otomycosis. Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 30(96), 41–47. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5787654

Kim, Y.-H. (2018). Clinical features of otomycosis co-occurring with chronic otitis media and the causative fungi. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 23(4), 105–110. https://doi.org/10.17966/JMI.2018.23.4.105

King, C. T., Rogers, P. D., Cleary, J. D., & Chapman, S. W. (1998). Antifungal therapy during pregnancy. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 27(5), 1151–1160. https://doi.org/10.1086/514977

Kurnatowski, P., & Filipiak, A. (2001). Otomycosis: Prevalence, clinical symptoms, therapeutic procedure. Mycoses, 44(11–12), 472–479. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0507.2001.00689.x

Patel, M. A., Aliporewala, V. M., & Patel, D. A. (2021). Common antifungal drugs in pregnancy: Risks and precautions. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology India, 71(6), 577–582. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-021-01586-8

Sherlie, V. S., & Varghese, A. (2014). ENT changes of pregnancy and its management. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 66(Suppl 1), 6–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-011-0376-6

Sobel, J. D. (2000). Use of antifungal drugs in pregnancy: A focus on safety. Drug Safety, 23(1), 77–85. https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200023010-00005

Sogebi, O. A., Oyewole, E. A., & Osinupebi, O. A. (2024). Clinicopathological study of otomycosis in a tertiary hospital in South-west Nigeria. African Health Sciences, 24(1), 69–75. https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v24i1.9

Downloads

Published

2026-04-14

How to Cite

Azhari, F. O., & Syukrinto, G. (2026). Management of Otomycosis in Pregnancy: A Case Study. Jurnal Sehat Indonesia (JUSINDO), 8(1), 275–281. https://doi.org/10.59141/-.v8i1.504