UNLABELLED Otomycosis is a fungal infection of the external ear canal with only a few studies about its real frequency in Brazil. AIM to evaluate otomycosis frequency and characteristics in patients with clinical suspicion of external otitis. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study with transversal cohort (2000-2006). MATERIALS AND METHODS 103 patients were assigned to mycological diagnosis (dir...

Malignant (necrotising) external otitis is an invasive infection of the external auditory canal. Although elderly patients with diabetes remain the population most commonly affected, immunosuppressed individuals (eg, from HIV infection, chemotherapy, etc) are also susceptible to malignant external otitis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is isolated from the aural drainage in more than 90% of cases. The ...

Background: Human wax is a mixture of desquamated keratinocytes secreted in outer third of the wall of external auditory canal. The wax produced forms a physiological barrier between the external environment and deep external auditory canal. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of human wax due to its chemical composition have raised considerable debate. Different authors have different ...

In the context of Middle and Late Pleistocene eastern Eurasian human crania, the external auditory exostoses (EAE) of the late archaic Xuchang 1 and 2 and the Xujiayao 15 early Late Pleistocene human temporal bones are described. Xujiayao 15 has small EAE (Grade 1), Xuchang 1 presents bilateral medium EAE (Grade 2), and Xuchang 2 exhibits bilaterally large EAE (Grade 3), especially on the right...

Acute otitis externa (AOE) is defined as a diffuse inflammation of the external ear canal, which may also involve the pinna or tympanic membrane (1). This condition is also known as “swimmer’s ear” or “tropical ear” due to a higher prevalence in individuals with prolonged water exposure during swimming or who live in warm and humid climates (2). The annual incidence of AOE is about 1:100 to 1:2...

Abstract Background Surfing is a popular sport in Australia, accounting for nearly 10% of the population. External auditory exostosis (EAE), also referred to as surfer’s ear, recognized potentially serious complication surfing. Cold water (water temperature below 19 °C) commonly cited risk factor, with prevalence EAE cold surfers ranging from 61 80%. However, there paucity studies reporting exp...

CONTEXT Hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic condition in older adults and has important effects on their physical and mental health. Despite these effects, most older patients are not assessed or treated for hearing loss. OBJECTIVE To review the evidence on screening and management of hearing loss of older adults in the primary care setting. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION We ...