Posts Tagged ‘illness treatment’

Understanding Otitis Externa Symptoms

Understanding Otitis Externa Symptoms 5.00/5 (100.00%) 4 votes

What is happening inside my child’s body? The ear has a long canal leading to the eardrum, and behind the drum are the bones that help conduct sound. The term “ear infec­tion” usually refers to an infection in the area behind the drum. This is called otitis media. However, the canal itself also can become inflamed or infected. This is called otitis externa (or swimmer’s ear).


There are two main causes of otitis externa: mechanical injury and humidity. Mechanical injury can be inflicted with fingernails, Q-Tips, or anything that scrapes the inside of the canal (such as small toys). Scratches allow bacteria that normally live on top of the skin to get underneath it, causing infection and inflammation.

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