Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

06:09
Optic Nerve Sheath Point of Care Ultrasound: Image Acquisition
Published on: August 18, 2023
Otomycosis in western Nigeria
James Fasunla1, Titus Ibekwe, Paul Onakoya
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. ayofasunla@yahoo.com
Mycoses
|December 14, 2007
Summary
Otomycosis, a fungal ear infection, affects 6.54% of ear disease patients in western Nigeria. Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus were the most common causes.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Otomycosis is a common fungal ear infection in tropical regions.
- Limited data exists on otomycosis prevalence and causative agents in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- This study addresses the knowledge gap in western Nigeria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of otomycosis in western Nigeria.
- To identify the etiological agents responsible for otomycosis in the region.
- To analyze clinical data associated with otomycosis cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records from 1996-2005.
- Inclusion criteria: patients diagnosed with otomycosis.
- Data collected: patient demographics, clinical presentation, causative agents, treatment outcomes.
Main Results:
- Otomycosis prevalence was 6.54% (378/5784) among ear disease patients.
- Female patients (61.64%) were more commonly affected than males (38.36%).
- Aspergillus niger (48.35%) and Aspergillus fumigatus (33.96%) were the predominant fungal agents.
Conclusions:
- Otomycosis is a significant clinical entity in western Nigeria.
- Aspergillus species are the primary cause of otomycosis in this population.
- Further research and awareness are needed, especially concerning misdiagnosis and prior antibiotic use.
Related Concept Videos
Skin Diseases and Disorders
Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is a protozoal disease caused by species of the genus Leishmania and transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies. The parasite exists in two principal morphological forms during its life cycle. A sandfly acquires intracellular amastigotes from an infected reservoir host, such as a dog. Within the sandfly, these forms differentiate into motile, flagellated promastigotes. During a subsequent blood meal, promastigotes are injected into the human host, where they...
American Trypanosomiasis
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan (kinetoplastid) of the family Trypanosomatidae. The disease is endemic in Latin America, although cases are increasingly reported worldwide due to human migration. Transmission most commonly occurs when feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate bite wounds or mucosal surfaces; additional routes include congenital, transfusional, transplant-related, and oral...
Candidiasis
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Trichomoniasis
Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasite and the causative agent of trichomoniasis, one of the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infections in the United States. This extracellular parasite primarily colonizes the lower genitourinary tract in women—particularly the vagina—and in men, the urethra and prostate. Its structural and functional adaptations enable its survival, motility, and pathogenicity within the host environment.Structural Features and Host EntryT.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...