[Otitis externa: etiology, diagnostic and therapy]

Abstract

Otitis externa (OE) occurs during the lifetime in approximately 10% of the population, especially in warm and damp climates or from swimming (swimmer's ear). Females are most often affected around the age of 50 years and males around 70 years of age. Both auditory canals are affected in approximately 10% of cases. Causes of infection are mostly bacteria, and more rarely fungi or viruses. OE can be accompanied not only by relatively slight pain and light swelling of the skin of the auditory canal, but also by severe pain, complete obstruction of the external meatus and retroauricular swelling. An uncomplicated infection can normally be treated by cleaning of the meatus by an ENT specialist and local application of a broad-spectrum antibiotic or an antiseptic supplemented with corticoids as well as antimycotics. Complicated infections, such as necrotizing OE, are rare and normally only occur in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus or in an immunosuppressed condition.