Prevalence of otomycosis in patients with cerumen impaction due to ear-phone usage during COVID-19

Background: Otomycosis affects about 9% of patients with otitis externa. One the predisposing factor is impacted cerumen. Earphone usage causes cerumen impaction. In light recent COVID-19 pandemic, people are housebound due to prolonged lockdown. Hence more technology dependent as working from home and studying online has become norm. Therefore, earphones proportionately increased, cases have increased. Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed analyze data questionnaire assess prevalence otomycosis among excessive earphone usage, establish associations between symptoms such pain hearing loss well correlation fungal growth long hours usage. The relationship age participants during pandemic was also explored. collected 100 individuals aged 14 51 years who sought treatment for symptomatic wax at an ENT clinic in Malaysia. Results: mean 25.9 years. There a 31% these patients. Otalgia present 60% (t value 2.94, coefficient 0.27). Approximately 37% had large air-bone gap indicating conductive loss. insignificant longer 1.51, 0.00015). No found total 0.63, 0.0012). Conclusion: offers initial evidence that could be developing otomycosis. However, there no increasing chances Additionally, like otalgia both earwax impaction