Painful Ear

 Otitis Externa

Symptoms:

Pain and discharge

Causes:

- Minor trauma to the ear (cotton buds)

- Swimming and water contamination

- Localised skin diseases - dermatitis

- Increased humidity – hearing aids

- Secondary to discharge from the middle ear

Aetiology:

- Bacterial or fungal infections

- Skin disorders such as dermatitis

Microbiology:

Pseudomonas, Proteus, Staphylococci, Streptococci, Aspergillus and Candida

Examination findings:

discharging ear canal, oedema, erythema

Management:

- Topical control of infection with antibiotics or antifungal drops. It is important that these have contact with the infected skin. This may require cleaning of the ear canal by dry mopping or microsuction. Sometimes the external canal is too swollen for the drops to enter and a wick is inserted. This absorbs the drops allowing them to have contact with the infected skin.

- Analgesia

Complications:

perichondritis and cellulitis