fungal ear infection

[mc1124]

I was diagnosed with a fungal ear infection (tropical ear) today - I have had repeatedly dealt with 'swimmers ear' over the past 3 years, sometimes as often as 3 times per year.  I have had severe pain in the affected ear, as well as pain in the temple on the affected side.  Starting 2 days ago, the lymph node behind that ear (which has been swollen since Nov. 07) became extremely painful.  It's like having cramps in the side of your neck at times.  My ENT prescribed ZOTO-HC OTIC SOL.  My question:  Is or has anyone else dealt with this type of infection - and how long does the pain last?  I have been in pain since New Year's Eve, and used three different types of drops, along with Zithromax.  The only thing that seems to help is piggy-backing Aleve and Ibuprofen (2 Aleve, 2 Ibuprofen three hours later - repeating evey 6 six hours).  I know that is twice the recommended amount of Aleve you should take in a day, and you shouldn't combine the two - but I am at my wits end - I have to be able to function to work and take care of my kids!  Tylenol is useless.  Any suggestions??

[jwk8]

Coconut oil helped me clear this up. It is naturally antifungal. I also rinsed my ear with a few drops of peroxide every other day. Remarkable clearing and the itch is gone!!!

[sllong]

This answer from me may be late. I had the same problem and my ENT specialist had to tell me to expect to see him at least once a year! Finally I resolved my problem. Essentially I think fungus grow in the ear because there are dead skin in the ear. So you need to solve the dead skin problem. It took me a long while to realize that the dead skin problem I have was due to an allergy. I actually have an allergy to soap. And everyday I was using soap when bathing. After I switch to a non-soap cleanser for bathing and even washing my hair, my dead skin problem goes away - and I'm fungus free so far! It works for me, I'm not sure if it does you. But surely it is no harm to try switching to non-soap cleanser.

[sllong]

I used to have fungus infection at least once a year. And the only way to get rid of the infection is to get it cleared up by an ENT specialist (in my case). But then the cause of the fungus infection is actually the dead skin that I somehow shed. Therefore to prevent fungus infection I must fixed by skin shredding. I'm "fortunate" that at one stage I have very bad shedding of skin on my leg. It was with me for a long while. Then I begin to suspect that this shedding of skin was due to allergy. It took me a while that I found out that I'm allergic to soap! I found out by first reducing the amount of soap I used. I noticed that I was shedding less. Then I switch to non-soap cleanser. And this improves tremendously. Incidentally, I used to have dandruff. Actually my dandruff is also shedding of skin. And now my dandruff is gone. And I no longer have fungus infection in the ear too!

[helpear]

do you use olive oil infused with garlic. it may not be so drying

[mariam_bish]

hello

I have been suffering from ear fungus for more than a year, I'v been suffering from a lot of fungus attacks, I have tried everything from creams to garlic to alcohol, the garlic did work for some time and gave good results but the problem that it leaves the internal surface of the ear canal dry and the skin keeps exfoliating, and instead of having an easy to remove fungus it becomes a little sticky so you need not use it frequently
the other problem is that my ear is not secretion any ear wax, so no matter what are you doing fungus come returning because the first line defense is missing
so now I am trying Chinese medicine aqua puncture, its giving good results so far, but still no wax

[jinksy241]

ive had ear infections for the last 20 years which after several repeated  ear ops consisting of replacing the ear drum relinging it..and cleaning it then a mastoid cavity..and a cholesteatoma which was removed 6 years ago ..ive now got another cholesteatoma impacted in my cavity now..... as it was had anMRI  in London   yesterday and awaitin results....i got my gp to transfere me to the ENT in London of greys inn road london as im from Peterborough near cambs as i was very dissatifyd with all the prodding and poking i was getting in peterborough and sort London Ent to help me..they took me as a nhs patient....and now im back again with varius black ear  infection s "aspigillus niger" its called i believe....