Itchy Ears

Abstract

Introduction Though itchy ears cause significant discomfort, patients generally do not consult a doctor till it becomes chronic. Moreover, itching as a symptom hardly receives any attention in non-dermatological clinics and is generally not considered as a condition worth evaluating. Thus, this study was performed to examine the predisposing factors of itchy ears and the outcomes of corresponding treatment. Materials and Methods This was a prospective observational study carried out over a period of 12 months (July 2019 to June 2020). The study included 200 patients belonging to the age group ranging from toddler to elderly (≤70 years) and presenting at the ENT OPD of a Tertiary Care Teaching Institute with the complaints of itching in one or both the ears. Following the diagnosis, appropriate treatment was started. The patients were then followed-up after 10 days, to note if symptom of itchiness in the ear(s) had relieved. Results Out of 200 patients, 89 presented with itchy ears due to various etiology, of which most common were otomycosis (N=30), allergic rhinitis (N=15), and keratosis obturans (N=10). However, majority of the patients (N=111) had impacted wax as the predisposing factor (trauma (N=27), abnormal anatomy (N=65), or hereditary (N=19)), resulting in itchy ears. On the 10th day, complaint of itchy ears was relieved in majority of the patients. However, amongst 30 patients, 3 patients with fungal infection of the external auditory canal still complained of itchy ears and thus, were referred to dermatologist. Conclusion Impacted wax was the most frequently observed predisposing factor and was commonly observed across all the age groups. Majority of the patients responded well to the treatment and were relieved of itchy ears.