A Case of Otomycosis Associated With a Sugar-Loaded Traditional Medicine Solution and Other Factors

The aim of this case report is to illustrate how multiple co-existing factors can contribute to otomycosis and to highlight possible new etiologies for this common condition.

We report the case of a woman with otomycosis in which a) several factors could have played an additive, contributing role, and b) with all other clinical parameters being equal (ceteris paribus) before and after otomycosis-specific treatment, a home-made, sugar-loaded medicinal solution could also have contributed to its pathogenesis.

Our case highlights that traditional medicines must be used with caution since they might cause side-effects and that history-taking must include enquiry about their use. This case also highlights that a ceteris paribus approach can be useful when interpreting case reports, which lack the methodological robustness of case-control or interventional studies.