AIM: To identify microflora of external auditory canal in patients with aural itching and to study susceptibility profiles of pathogenic organisms.

Materials & Methods: A total of 194 patients with aural itching were selected. An external auditory canal swab was taken. The samples were emulsified in different media for studying different organisms. Culture and sensitivity was done for the pathogenic organisms.

Results: Of the total 194 patients, 107 patients had no growth. Of the remaining 84 cases, 55 patients yielded aerobic bacteria and anaerobes were isolated in 04 cases. Of the aerobes isolated, coagulase negative staphylococcus was isolated from 31 patients, staphylococcus aureus from 17 patients and pseudomonas aeruginosa in 07. Fungi were isolated in 29 cases.

Conclusion:Our findings suggest that asteatosis should be considered an etiology in patients with pruritic ears after bacterial and fungal infections have been ruled out. Our study showed that a combination of a topical antibiotic/steroid and oral antihistamine is effective in alleviating the symptoms of pruritic ears.