Gruesome video shows dozens of ‘MUSHROOMS’ growing in a woman’s ear after she complained it was painful and itchy
- Unnamed woman went to see her doctor in Dien Bien Province, Vietnam
- Medic, also anonymous, used an endoscope to check inside her ear earlier today
- Fungal infection is thought to be triggered by an infestation of ‘bad’ bacteria
A gruesome video shows dozens of ‘mushrooms’ growing in a woman’s ear.
The unnamed woman went to see her doctor in Dien Bien Province, Vietnam, when her ears became itchy and painful.
The medic, who is also anonymous, used an endoscope to check inside her ear canal.
This revealed dozens of black spores, resembling mushrooms, which were quickly removed. It is unclear how the patient is doing.
The doctor believes the woman’s fungal infection was triggered by an infestation of ‘bad’ bacteria.
Bad bacteria reduces the number of ‘good bugs’ in a person’s outer ear. Good bacteria help fight off fungi, which people come into contact with every day and do not usually cause a problem.
David Bowdler – an ear, nose and throat specialist at London Bridge Hospital – previously told MailOnline the growth of ‘mushrooms’ in the ear canal is a ‘classic ear infection’.
Speaking of a similar case, he said: ‘It’s a fungal infection of the external ear canal, called aspergillus niger.
‘It could muffle the hearing and just lingers in a grumbling manner.’
Aspergillus is said to be responsible for nine in 10 fungal infections, with the remaining 10 per cent being down to Candida, which also causes thrush, according to Patient.info.
Fungal infection often occur when doctors attempt to treat a bacterial infestation with oral drugs rather than ear drops, Dr Bowdler said.
Oral drugs do not deliver medication into the ear as effectively as drops. The bacterial infection is therefore not cured, which can allow a secondary fungal infection to take hold.
Direct drops and microsuction, a small vacuum to clear debris out of the ear canal, usually clears up ear infections, Dr Bowlder added.
Fungal ear infections, known medically as otomycosis, vary in severity. Symptoms can include poor hearing, as well as discharge, redness or pain.
Infections may come about if someone does not have enough ear wax, which is the body’s way of protecting the ear canal.
They are more common in humid or tropical countries due to fungi growing faster in warm conditions.
A video shows dozens of ‘mushrooms’ growing in an unnamed woman’s ear (pictured)
WHAT IS A FUNGAL EAR INFECTION?
A fungal ear infection develops when fungi grow inside a person’s ear canal.
The condition is technically known as otomycosis, can be caused by various species of fungus and is fairly common.
Fungal infections are generally not as painful as bacterial infections but can cause itching and can muffle the patient’s hearing because the spores can stop sound entering the ear.
Aspergillus is the most common type of fungus which causes infection and is responsible for more than 75 per cent of fungal ear infections.
The next most common form is candida, which is best known for causing thrush.
The infections are more common in tropical climates because fungi grow better in warm, moist conditions.
Treating the infections usually involves using anti-fungal ear drops and a small vacuum to remove the spores from the ear.
Source: Hidden Hearing and David Bowdler, London Bridge Hospital
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