Results
Case 1: A 54 year old female presented with a 2 month history of bilateral ear irritation associated with hypoacusis, tinnitus and otalgia. She had no previous ear symptoms. Previous treatment included betnesol drops for 1 week and otomise ear spray for 1 week. Microscopic examination of the ear canal revealed a perforation of the left tympanic membrane and visible fungal spores. Microbiological swab was sent, which grew Aspergillus niger species. A one week course of Flumetasone Pivalate 0.02% / Clioquinol 1.0% ear drops was given. After one month, there was some improvement of the clinical picture with respect to the otalgia and some closure of the tympanic membrane perforation which was now dry but not complete closure, hence a tympanoplasty was performed with resultant normal hearing on the audiogram. (Figure 1)
Case 2: 39 year old female presented with left otalgia, hypoacusis and ottorhoea. A one week course of sofradex ear drops were unhelpful. Microscopic examination revealed debris which was microsuctioned to reveal multiple tympanic membrane perforations. A microbiological swab grew Aspergillus niger species. A one week course of Flumetasone Pivalate 0.02% / Clioquinol 1.0% ear drops resulted in full resolution of symptoms and closure of the tympanic membrane perforations. (Figure 2) The post-treatment audiogram was normal.