Highlights & Basics
- Acute otitis externa (AOE) is a diffuse inflammation of the external ear canal that is most commonly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.
- Presents with rapid onset of ear pain, tenderness, itching, aural fullness, and hearing loss.
- More common in children and young adults.
- Fungal otitis externa is a fungal infection of the external ear caused by molds and yeasts, which presents in a similar way to acute bacterial otitis externa.
- Necrotizing otitis externa infection (also called malignant otitis externa) involves skin and soft tissue of the external auditory canal and bone tissue of the temporal bone.
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Citations
Rosenfeld RM, Schwartz SR, Cannon CR, et al. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Clinical practice guideline: acute otitis externa. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014 Feb;150(1 suppl):S1-24. [Erratum in: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014 Mar;150(3):504].[Abstract][Full Text]
Jackson EA, Geer K. Acute otitis externa: rapid evidence review. Am Fam Physician. 2023 Feb;107(2):145-51.[Abstract]
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