Otitis Externa

Otitis Externa is an infection or inflammation of the outer ear canal, which is the passage leading from the outside of the ear to the eardrum. It primarily affects the skin lining this canal and can cause ear pain, itching, and sometimes discharge from the ear. This condition is often called swimmer's ear because it commonly occurs after water exposure that traps moisture in the ear canal. The infection can make it difficult to hear clearly due to swelling and blockage. It mainly involves the skin and soft tissues of the ear canal and can affect people of all ages.

Otitis Externa is an acute or chronic inflammation of the external auditory canal, typically caused by bacterial infection, most commonly Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The core pathology involves disruption of the protective skin barrier, leading to infection and inflammation of the canal's epidermis and dermis. Risk factors include moisture retention, trauma from cleaning, and dermatologic conditions. Clinically, it presents with ear pain, pruritus, aural fullness, and sometimes purulent discharge. The condition is significant because it can cause severe pain and, if untreated, may lead to complications such as malignant otitis externa in immunocompromised patients. Diagnosis is primarily clinical, supported by otoscopic findings of canal erythema, edema, and debris.