Otitis externa

In UK more than 1% of its population is affected by Otitis externa. Inflammation is caused in the external ear canal which is located in between ear drum and outer ear. This condition is more common in women than men, however otitis externa can affect anyone. This is more common in humid conditions an caused by water getting into the ear canal because of this it is also called as “tropical ear” or “swimmer’s ear”. It can also be caused by an allergic reaction to anything coming in contact with external ear canal. In most of the cases the causes may be unknown. Analgesics and ear drops can treat otitis externa easily. Seldom complications occur. There are many steps that can prevent recurrence of otitis externa

Symptoms

Otitis externa come in three types, chronic otitis externa, acute diffuse externa and localised otitis externa.
Symptoms differ with each type, some are mentioned below:
Localised otitis externa
Hair root infection in ear canal is localised type of otitis externa. Symptoms include:
A small pimple in the ear canal, which is red in color, may develop yellow or white pus at centre. In few cases pimple will progress and a boil is formed, which obstructs ear canal.
Pain in the ear, while any moment. The pain can be unbearable as compared to the pimple size. In some cases, the boil or pimple burst resulting in no pain.
Occasional hearing loss, in case the boil or pimple is blocking ear canal.
Acute diffuse otitis externa
The inflammation which is widespread in the ear canal is acute diffuse otitis externa, causes rash extending till ear drum and outer ear. If this lasts lesser than 20-21 days, it is acute form of otitis externa. Symptoms may include:

• some hearing loss.
• swollen and sore glands in your throat
• tenderness while moving ear or jaw
• itching and irritation around and in the ear canal
• discharge from the ear, watery and thin or pus-like,
• scaly skin around and in the ear canal, which may peel off
• redness and swelling of your outer ear (pinna) and ear canal, which can be very painful,
• Chronic otitis externa

The inflammation, which is widespread in the ear canal is chronic type of otitis externa which is similar to acute otitis externa, this causes rash which spreads throughout the ear. It this last for more than 3 months it is chronic type of otitis externa. In certain it can lasts for many years. Chronic type of otitis externa symptoms is quite similar to acute otitis externa with the following additions:

• There is a built up in ear canal of dry and thick skin making the canal narrower, which can also affect hearing
• a lack of ear wax,
• thin and watery discharge coming from your ear
• pain and discnfort in ear which becomes worse when you move it
• a constant itch in and around your ear canal, which is often the main symptom,

Causes

Otitis externa can be caused for various reasons, there can be certain factors that provoke the condition to occur. The causes remain unknown in cases especially of chronic otitis externa.