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Ear anatomy
Ear anatomy
OverviewSymptomsTreatmentPrevention

Malignant otitis externa

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

Symptoms:


Signs and tests:

A doctor will look into your ear for signs of an outer ear infection (otitis externa). The head around and behind the ear may be tender to touch. A neurological examination may show that the cranial nerves are affected.

If there is any drainage, the doctor may send it to the lab for a culture to be performed. The purpose of the culture is to look for bacteria or fungus, usually the bacteria Pseudomonas.

To look for signs of a bone infection adjacent to the ear canal, the following tests may be performed:



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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