PREVALENCE OF OTOMYCOSIS IN MALNOURISHED CHILDREN IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Out of the total number at 200 suspected cases of otomycoses consistin g of 40 malnourished and 160 apparently healthy children examined in t his study between the months of July and August in Edo State, 64 Cases (32%) were identified to be of fungal aetiology on the basis of posit ive culture and careful microscopic examination. The state at protein energy malnourishment was deterwined using physicians' comments in the ir case fries. The fungal agents isolated were Aspergillus niger 28 (4 3.8%); A. fumigatus 4 (25%); Fusarium solari 4 (6.3%); Candida albican s 8 (12.5%); and Hendersonula teruloidea types tom B 5 (6.3%). Of thes e isolates, A. niger having an solation rate of (43.8%) was found to b e the most predominant fungal species associated with otomycosis.