Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Outer Ear Infections
Number of Conditions: 3
Otitis Externa (Swimmer’s Ear)
Specialty: Ear
Category: Infectious and Inflammatory Ear Conditions
Sub-category: Outer Ear Infections
Symptoms:
ear pain; itchiness in the ear canal; redness or swelling of the ear canal; drainage of clear, yellow, or pus-like fluid; temporary hearing loss
Root Cause:
Inflammation and infection of the outer ear canal, often caused by trapped water facilitating bacterial growth (commonly Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed clinically by ear pain, swelling, and discharge.
Treatment:
Treated with topical antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin) and corticosteroids.
Medications:
Topical antibiotic eardrops (e.g., ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin ) are commonly prescribed. These are fluoroquinolone antibiotics that target the bacterial infection. Inflammatory symptoms can be managed with corticosteroid drops such as hydrocortisone .
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated to affect 10% of people at some point in their lives, more common in swimmers and individuals in humid climates.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Frequent swimming or water exposure, use of hearing aids, narrow ear canals, skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, aggressive ear cleaning causing trauma.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with timely treatment; symptoms typically resolve within a week with appropriate care.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Persistent infections, spread to nearby tissues (rare), or progression to malignant otitis externa in immunocompromised individuals.
Malignant Otitis Externa (Necrotizing Otitis Externa)
Specialty: Ear
Category: Infectious and Inflammatory Ear Conditions
Sub-category: Outer Ear Infections
Symptoms:
severe ear pain; persistent ear discharge; hearing loss; cranial nerve dysfunction (e.g., facial weakness); redness or swelling around the ear; fever
Root Cause:
Aggressive infection of the external auditory canal that spreads to the base of the skull, typically caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. More common in diabetic or immunocompromised patients.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed with imaging (CT/MRI) and clinical examination.
Treatment:
Treated with systemic antibiotics like ciprofloxacin and surgical debridement if necessary.
Medications:
Ciprofloxacin is the most commonly used antibiotic, administered orally or intravenously. It is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Other options include ceftazidime or piperacillin-tazobactam for resistant strains.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, with higher incidence in older adults with poorly controlled diabetes.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression (e.g., due to chemotherapy or HIV), chronic ear infections, advanced age.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; with prompt treatment, prognosis is good, but delays in treatment can lead to high morbidity and mortality due to cranial nerve involvement and spread of the infection.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cranial nerve palsies, meningitis, brain abscesses, and osteomyelitis of the skull base.
Fungal Otitis Externa (Otomycosis)
Specialty: Ear
Category: Infectious and Inflammatory Ear Conditions
Sub-category: Outer Ear Infections
Symptoms:
itching; discomfort or mild pain; ear fullness or blockage; white, gray, or black fungal debris in the ear canal; hearing loss due to blockage
Root Cause:
Fungal infection of the external ear canal, commonly caused by fungi such as Aspergillus or Candida species.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed by otoscopy revealing fungal debris.
Treatment:
Treated with antifungal ear drops (e.g., clotrimazole).
Medications:
Topical antifungals such as clotrimazole or miconazole are commonly prescribed. For resistant cases, oral antifungal agents like itraconazole may be used.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Relatively common in tropical and humid climates; accounts for up to 10% of otitis externa cases.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Frequent water exposure, prolonged use of topical antibiotics, use of hearing aids, underlying skin conditions like eczema, diabetes, or immunosuppression.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with proper treatment; recurrences may occur if risk factors persist.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic inflammation, secondary bacterial infections, and rarely, invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised individuals.