Otitis externa
- Infections of the outer ear
- External ear infection
Nature
A disorder in which there is infection, inflammation or irritation of the external ear and ear canal. There is often a history of recent exposure to water or mechanical ear trauma from scratching or foreign objects in the ear. Swimming in polluted water is one way to contract swimmer's ear.
Incidence
Otitis externa is fairly common, affecting 4 out of 1,000 people, mostly teenagers and young adults.