Tick on the tympanic membrane.

INTRODUCTION: Different foreign bodies can reach the lumen of the external auditory canal. Clinical presence of the foreign bodies depends on the nature of the foreign body, localization, morphological features, and the presence of pathological process. CASE REPORT: This study gives a report on a rare foreign body--a tick on the eardrum, which is a very rare localization in European countries. CONCLUSION: Identification, determination of the nature of the foreign body and the way of extracting it depend on the application of adequate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Otitis externa and myringitis due to demodicidosis.

We report on an 84-year-old woman with chronic pruritic otitis externa and myringitis. Microbiological and mycological investigations failed to establish the cause, but histology revealed a large amount of Demodex mites. Topical treatment for this ectoparasite resulted in a complete remission. The myringitis was eventually treated successfully with myringoplasty. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case report on Demodex-induced otitis externa and myringitis.

A case of aural gnathostomiasis.

A young Thai woman was afflicted with aural gnathostomiasis. The only symptom she had was sudden intermittent otalgia without apparent hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo or otorrhea. Presumptive diagnosis was made from the recent history of ingesting raw fish with subsequent migratory swellings. Definite diagnosis rested on identification of the worms, pertinent eosinophilia and positive skin test. This case was different from those previously reported because it was a primary aural gnathostomiasis without neurological involvement.