Ear canal infection
Otitis externa is an infection of the outer ear canal. Patients usually have pain at the outer ear, and there may be fluid draining from the ear. Often these infections are caused by water accumulating in the ear canal, such as after swimming, or if the ear contains excessive ear wax.
Dr. Robert Kwok reviewed this
35 year experience in Pediatrics
How long it usually lasts:
How common it is:
Baby 0-2 | Very common | ||||
Preteen 6-13 | Very common | ||||
Teenager 14-18 | Very common | ||||
Young adult 19-40 | Very common | ||||
Middle-aged adult 41-60 | Very common |
Symptoms
Medications
Related questions
A 39-year old asked:
How should I treat an ear canal infection (otitis externa)?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 48-year old asked:
I have ear canal infection and swelling, what to do for treatment?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 47-year old asked:
I'm concerned because I have swollen submental gland (under chin gland) and right ear inner canal infection?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 31-year old female asked:
My 3 year old is on her 2nd set of pe tubes (t&a removed).Left tube is in the ear canal & is infectioned.Is it recommended/safe to replace this tube?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A female asked:
My 3yr old has a canal ear infection. She got kicked in the ear on sat by another child. Today she has had 3 nosebleeds. Never had them before. ?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 50-year old male asked:
Can ear canals swell due to infection or a fungal ear?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
A 25-year old male asked:
Plugged ear after root canal/infection.. Is it normal? Antibiotics were taken
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 45-year old female asked:
I'm currently on drops and antibiotics for An ear infection. Canal was inflamed but ear drum looked ok. I am flying on Friday. Still feel pressure?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
A 29-year old male asked:
My ears get blocked as soon as any water enters the canal whenever I shower and that tends to block my hearing. It causes infection as the fluid does not drain, what would I need to do in this instance?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 46-year old asked:
Ear canal swelling due to sinus infection. How do I get it to go down?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 39-year old female asked:
For the past few months the inside of my ear canal smells sour. I noticed it when taking out earphones. Dr said he didn't see infection. It's nasty?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 30-year old female asked:
I have a bad sinus infection that has cut off air flow to my ear canals totally. I bent over today got a huge pop sound fallowed by pain and no sound?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 27-year old female asked:
My ear feels very sore and canal feels swollen. I am hard of hearing. Could this be a start of an infection?!
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 24-year old female asked:
Painless Pimple/cyst in ear canal, busted. How should I proceed with cleaning out pus-afraid to clean with qtip due to pushing the infection deeper?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 16-year old male asked:
Can my ear be exposed to change in air pressure like going in higher places like baguio(philippines)using a vehicle..Doctor said that I have an infection in the canal(white fungi can be seen)(happened after swimming)?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 48-year old asked:
Clogged ear feeling but no ear infection. Is that ear canal, tube?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 21-year old female asked:
If fungal debris is present in the ear canal even after using the antifungal ear drops,Will there be a possibility of recurrence of the infection?
3 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 30-year old male asked:
I had my ear irrigated, then the ear canal became itchy, then i got a middle ear infection, now the infection has gone its itchy again? What will help
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A male asked:
Do you know anything about mold in an ear canal? My sons ent says he has a yeast infection but it wont clear up. Could mold in our home be causing it?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 21-year old male asked:
Ear tickle in my outer ear specifically near the ear canal opening for a few days. olive oil drops and eatex drops used but still there, no pain no symptoms for infection. Put my finger in there and q tips but not deep in ear, could this be the cause?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old female asked:
My daughter has ear tubes. Her ear canal is red and she is playing with it. Is it an ear infection. ?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 34-year old male asked:
I went for head massage and therapist put his finger in my ear canal which might lead to scratch. Can this lead to hiv infection if he has cut ?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 37-year old male asked:
Ear canal pain for 1 month, worse when chewing. No infection but doc saw dried blood & prescribed drops for presumed abrasion. No improvement after 3 weeks. If present, would ear cancer likely be midsiagnosed as simple abrasion via otoscope?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 47-year old male asked:
Tingling feeling in right ear canal only, almost feels like hairs moving or I have a ear bud(headphones) in that ear. no infection or wax. some kind of nerve issue, I can put my finger in the canal and the feeling stops. what could cause this?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 35-year old female asked:
I finished a course of Augmentin yesterday for an ear infection (swollen preauricular node, swollen canal, burning ear), but my ear still feels clogged. Node seems smaller than a week ago but still present. Should I contact dr?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 34-year old female asked:
Sharp pain behind ear lobe on the neck area press it sharp pain with following swelling of the ear canal and face is this an infection from the teeth ?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 38-year old male asked:
I had a double ear infection recently. I was prescribed augmentin for a week. I finished it just over a week ago and seemed fine. However, now both ears/ear canals are very itchy. Is there a cause for concern or normal? Thank you?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 37-year old female asked:
Middle ear infection with yellowish drainage, seen ent. Ear was not painful b4, now there is slight pain, , infection reach ear canal?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 29-year old female asked about a 52-year old female:
Tooth infection.On rodogyl. 10days.Root canal done.Still pain. Lnode by jaw swollen.Bone by ear near temple hurts.Do i need see a doctor not dentist?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 23-year old male asked:
I currently have some kind of outer ear infection. All my jaw and my ear bones are very painful. Also inflamated ear canal. I took ibuprohene but not helpful. Was wondering if 1mg dilaudid for pain and cyprofloxacin or corticosteroid drop would help?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
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