Can be localised or diffuse and can spread to the pinna

It can be acute (less than 3 weeks) or chronic (more than 3 weeks)

Causes

Exposure to water whilst swimming can lead to inflammation in the ear canal (swimmer's ear)

Trauma from ear canal (e.g. ear buds, ear plugs)

Ear wax (cerumen) has a protective effect against infection, and the removal of ear wax can increase the chances of infection.

The inflammation in otitis externa may be caused by:

• Bacterial infection
• Fungal infection (e.g., aspergillus or candida)
• Eczema
• Seborrhoeic dermatitis
• Contact dermatitis

Bacterial Causes

The two most common bacterial causes of otitis externa are:

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Staphylococcus aureus

PC

The typical symptoms of otitis externa are: