Malignant otitis externa

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Ear anatomy

Osteomyelitis of the skull; Otitis externa - malignant

To prevent an external ear infection, dry the ear thoroughly after exposure to moisture. Avoid swimming in polluted water and protect the ear canal with cotton or lamb's wool while applying hair spray or hair dye (if susceptible to external ear infections).

Treat acute otitis externa completely and do not stop treatment sooner than recommended by your health care provider. Following your doctor's plan completely will reduce the risk of it becoming malignant otitis externa.

After swimming, 1 or 2 drops of a mixture of 50% alcohol and 50% vinegar in each ear will help to dry the ear and prevent infection.

Review Date: 01/30/2007
Reviewed By: Ravindra Uppaluri, MD. Otolaryngologist, Private Practice, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.