Otitis Externa
Otitis externa
is an infection and inflammation of the outer ear (ear canal). It can range from being merely itchy to
severely painful. It is also known as Swimmer’s Ear.
How does it occur:
·
Sometimes
trauma to the ear canal can lead to infection
o
Q-tip
use
o
Bobby
pins or similar instruments used to scratch ear canal
·
Often
occurs with increased heat and moisture
·
Frequent
water exposure, like swimming
·
Ear
wax is protective; if removed, it may lead to higher chance of an otitis externa
Symptoms:
One sided
ear pain & pain with movement of the ear
Itching
Stuffiness
Smelly
discharge or drainage
Treatment:
If experiencing drainage, the ear canal should be suctioned
under a microscope by an ENT clinician.
This allows the debris and infection which is filling the ear canal to
be removed. The clinician will then look
at the eardrum under the microscope.
Sometimes a middle ear infection may be present as well.
Then eardrops will be placed. The ear drops often contain an antibiotic (to
fight infection) and steroids (to decrease inflammation). If the skin of the ear canal is very swollen,
a tiny sponge, called a wick, will be placed to allow the drops to get down to
the ear drum. Your child will be placed
on ear drops for a set amount of time.
Sometimes more than one treatment
under the microscope is needed to completely get rid of the infection. It is important to keep the ear dry during
treatment.