Swimmer's ear - chronic

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Ear anatomy

Medical findings based on ear anatomy

Ear infection - outer ear - chronic; Otitis externa - chronic

• Ear pain -- may worsen with pulling on the external ear
• Itching of the ear or ear canal
• Persistent drainage from the ear -- yellow, yellow-green, pus, or foul smelling
• Hearing loss

When the physician looks in the ear, it appears red and swollen, including the ear canal. The ear canal may appear eczema-like, with scaly shedding of skin. Touching or moving the outer ear increases the pain. It may be difficult for the physician to see the eardrum with an otoscope, or the eardrum may appear red.

The outermost part of the ear, the tragus, may ultimately become infected, and appear red and swollen.

Review Date: 06/15/2005
Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.