Otitic Candidiasis in Children: An Evaluation of the Problem and Effectiveness of Ketoconazole in 10 Patients

The purpose of this paper is to report a group of children with recurring ear infections in whom persistent otorrhea was found to be due to monilial (Candida) infection of the middle ear. Some of the patients had associated mastoid disease. A review of the literature reveals few reports of otitis media and/or mastoiditis due to Candida infection. Ten patients who had persistent otorrhea were found to have monilial infection as a cause of the ear disease. None of the patients were immunosuppressed or immunocompromised. Nine of the 10 patients (one was lost to follow-up) were treated with antifungal medication, and the effectiveness of ketoconazole therapy is evaluated. None of the children in this series had systemic candidiasis. The probable causes of the problem of yeast infection of the ear are explored and appear to be related to the use of multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics and local antibiotic-steroid ear drops.