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Ear canal infection
Otitis externa is an infection of the outer ear canal. Patients usually have pain at the outer ear, and there may be fluid draining from the ear. Often these infections are caused by water accumulating in the ear canal, such as after swimming, or if the ear contains excessive ear wax.
Dr. Kat Kat reviewed this
33 years experience
How long it usually lasts:
How common it is:
Baby 0-2 | Very common | ||||
Toddler 3-5 | Very common | ||||
Preteen 6-13 | Very common | ||||
Teenager 14-18 | Very common | ||||
Young adult 19-40 | Very common | ||||
Middle-aged adult 41-60 | Very common | ||||
Senior 60+ | Very common |
Medications
Related questions
A 47-year old asked:
I'm concerned because I have swollen submental gland (under chin gland) and right ear inner canal infection?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 32-year old female asked:
Does the gook n ur ear from canal infection come out by itself?? In adults?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 31-year old female asked:
My 3 year old is on her 2nd set of PE tubes (T&A removed).Left tube is in the ear canal & is infectioned.Is it recommended/safe to replace this tube?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 27-year old female asked:
My ear feels very sore and canal feels swollen. I am hard of hearing. Could this be a start of an infection?!
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 30-year old female asked:
Had a root canal 2 mos ago and still have residual infection. I was told abx are not needed. Could this cause my glands to be swollen and ear to hurt?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
A 28-year old female asked:
Ice pick pain behind ears with canal swelling. Do I have an ear infection? Pain is intermittent. Persistant right canal swelling with burning.
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 29-year old female asked about a 52-year old female:
Tooth infection.on Rodogyl. 10days.root canal done.still pain. LNode by jaw swollen.bone by ear near temple hurts.do I need see a doctor not dentist?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old female asked:
My daughter has ear tubes. Her ear canal is red and she is playing with it. Is it an ear infection. ?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 29-year old female asked:
Getting over ear infection. Fluid gone. Feels like inflated balloon still in ear canal...finished zpak antibiotic?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 56-year old female asked:
Had swimmers ear infection had neomycin drops, my ear outside of canal and lobe swollen and inflamed? My outside ear is very large compared to other
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 26-year old asked:
what can i do for a swollen ear canal?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 19-year old female asked:
How can I reduce swelling in ear canal?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 47-year old asked:
Ear canal abscess. Are there any home remedies?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 44-year old female asked:
My kids have dark wax in their ears. One child is really bothered- has most wax. How can I break up/ get rid of this wax? Not near to outer canal.
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 32-year old female asked:
My husband had pricking pain in the ear at nights. This is the 3rd time in last 4 months. Doctor says his ear canals are clear but he has no relief.
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 34-year old asked:
How to get tissue out of your ear canal?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 28-year old female asked:
If a tympanoplsty with graph through ear canal don't take what is next step ?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 34-year old male asked:
My son of 4 was born classically autistic. My daughter was born two days ago with small ear and no opening for the ear canal. healthy lifestyle - why?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 36-year old asked:
Can there be a small bone behind that surrounds the ear canal?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 38-year old asked:
Help please! Is ear canal irrigation the best way to clear up a plugged-up ear canal?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 21-year old female asked:
Bad ear pain. Nurse cleaned out wax. Doc said fluid behind drum and inf ear canal. How? I'm not sick. Ideas?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 47-year old asked:
Just had a lot of root canals done and my ears are ringing. Will the ringing stop after the trauma goes down?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 18-year old female asked:
I have a boil bigger than a pea in my ear not inside the canal but on the outter part in the middle should attempt to pop it?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 21-year old female asked:
Bump found in ear canal (near the outside) while q tipping my ears this morning. Hurts when pushed on stung when peroxide applied to it. What is it?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 35-year old asked:
Constantly itchy ear canals. Now gone, but it still really itches and also everytime i chew gum my ear canals itch like crazy! any ideas as to why!?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 46-year old asked:
What can cause a small hole above my ear canal that oozes discharge when I press on it?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 18-year old asked:
a few years ago i had a hard growth in my ear canal and got it removed, now its growing again in the same spot. Why has it come back and what is it?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 36-year old female asked:
My boyfriend had a root canal almost a week ago, he is experiencing loss of balance, swollen necks glands , and fatigue, is it possible he got a ear?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 37-year old male asked:
The skin inside one of my ears is very dry and flaky and there is a very small amount of moisture that builds up in that ear all the time. I have to use a q-tip to wipe it out of the canal but it builds right back up.?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 37-year old asked:
Can PE tubes fall backward into the head instead of into the ear canal?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
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