Ear anatomy
Ear anatomy


Malignant otitis externa

Alternative Names:
Osteomyelitis of the skull; Otitis externa - malignant

Prevention:

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: 5/6/2003
Reviewed By: Jason Newman, M.D., Department of Otolaryngology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Washington, DC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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