Dermatophytosis of the external auditory meatus.

Thirty-two cases of dermatophyte infection in the external auditory meatus are reported. All the patients complained of slight itching or accumulation of cerumen; however, they had no other serious complaints. Otoscopy revealed lesions in the outer third of the ear canal. The skin of the meatus externus osseus and the surface of the tympanic membrane were all intact. In all cases, mycelial elements were demonstrated in KOH mounts of scrapings, and Trichophyton rubrum (29 cases), Microsporum canis (2 cases), and Epidermophyton floccosum (1 case) were isolated. All patients had ringworm of the pinna at the time of examination or in the past.