Outer ear infections
Outer ear infections
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What are outer ear infections?
Outer earinfections, or otitis externa, affect the skin lining the ear canal, between the opening of the ear and theeardrum. This causesinflammation and swelling of this region, which results in pain, itching in the ear, temporary hearing loss and discharge of a smelly yellow-greenpus.
Outer ear infections are also known as 'swimmer's ear' because they tend to develop after swimming, showering, or other activities that cause the ears to become waterlogged. Soggy skin in your ear canal provides an ideal environment forbacteria andfungi to grow, which can lead to an infection.
Typical inflammation and swelling of the ear canal due to an outer ear infection.
The ear
The ear is made up of three main parts: the outer ear,middle ear andinner ear. Outer ear infections cause inflammation and swelling of the outer ear canal, which is located between the opening of th