As discussed in the
Emergency Department prior to discharge, you have been diagnosed with an
infection of the external ear canal known as otitis externa. Otitis externa is an infection of
the outer ear canal. The outer ear canal
is the passageway that leads into your ear – the same canal which we use to put
in ear plugs and earbud headphones. An
infection can happen if the canal gets scratched or if there is water trapped
inside.
Ear
infections can cause a lot of pain and itchiness inside the ear. Patients who are immunocompromised (such as
people with severe diabetes, on high-dose prednisone medication, or on chemotherapy)
may have more serious disease and need to be watched closely. However, healthy patients will generally make
a complete recovery using antibiotic ear drops.
If the ear canal is too swollen for the ear drops to get inside, a
physician might use a wick (a piece of cotton soaked in medication) to get the
medicine into the ear canal.
The
most important thing that you can do is to keep your ear canal dry (after the
ear drops have been absorbed).
You
can take Acetaminophen (same thing as Tylenol) and/or Ibuprofen (same thing as
Advil or Motrin) for pain.
You
should feel a significant improvement within 2 days of taking the antibiotics.
Return to the Emergency
Department if you do not notice an improvement in 2 days (while taking the
antibiotics as directed), if fever doesn’t resolve within two days of taking
the antibiotics, or you develop a new fever (≥38.0 °C or 100.4 °F), for
spreading redness (around or behind the ear), drowsiness, a stiff neck or
confusion, or any new or concerning symptoms.
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