Otoacariasis: demographic and clinical outcomes of patients with ticks in the ear canal.

INTRODUCTION Otoacariasis, the attachment of ticks and mites within the ear canal is a common phenomenon especially in rural areas. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical and demographic features of cases with detected ticks in the ear canal, which is a common health problem, and identify tick species. METHODS Data of patients who had otoacariasis were collected. We also investigated all ticks at the Veterinary Department of Kafkas University. RESULTS We present the data of patients with otoacariasis. All ticks were identified as otobius. Otobius ticks were found not related with any complications. CONCLUSION It is very important to detect ticks in the ear canal as they act as vector of some diseases. Identifying species of ticks may help clinicians to prevent further complications associated with vector-borne diseases.