Conditions
Otitis Externa
Otitis externa is an infection of ear canal that is often referred to as swimmers ear. It can be caused by an infection or an allergic reaction within the outer ear. A mild form of the condition can result in a single spot occurring that causes localised pain, but which disappears when the spot bursts. More serious cases involve the spread of the condition to the outer ear and scaly skin being produced. There is also the possibility that pus and other discharge can occur as well. Localised cases will normally heal of their own accord, but if it is acute and continues then antibiotics and professional cleaning of the ear will often be prescribed.
If you are worried that your child may be suffering from an ear infection or glue ear and grommets, read our guides especially for parents on Embarrassing Bodies: Kids website.
Comments and Questions
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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
Hi, My daughter has suffered with Otitis Media (glue ear) since she was 3, she's had endless operations and grommets, the last grommet was put in nearly 2 weeks ago, she knows it's not worked, is there anything that can be done. She is in dreadful pain, has 2 small children and when it flares up she finds it very difficult to cope. She is no 29 so has suffered for 26 years. Thankyou.
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Hi i am 25 and for years now i have bee suffering from ear infections i have had a grommet in it and taken back out in late oct last yr i i had a mastoidectomy and was told i should be fine i keep being put on antibiotics and creams and drops and nothing is helping i know which antibiotic helps and its augmentine but taken by mouth in sick but if i have it via IV it clears the problem up but the doctors dont seem to have the time of day to admit me to the hospital to help..Can you please HELP ME its driving me crazy..
I have been suffering from an ear infection for over two years now, it just won't heal, I have been to the Doctors and seen skin specialists and even A&E as one night my ear would not stop bleeding, but no Doctors seem to know how to help me. I have tried antibiotics, Steroid creams, nothing helps, plus it affects my sleep as I can't sleep on my left side in case it aggravates my Ear, I can't go swimming as I am worried what would happen if I did, and I really miss swimming, sometimes it gets better, then, after a month, it's back to square one again. I do hope somebody can help me.
I have a constant whooshing sound in my left ear. its not painful in any way although it is sometimes itchy inside. i have had the wax washed out but when i went to my gp to have another look, the wax had built up again, this was in the space of 3 weeks. HELP!! ive had this constant pulsing in my ear for 5 months now
Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/
I have had bleeding from my ears for over a year. I have had loads of antibiotics and now referred onto ENT. ENT say i have an inner and outer ear infection so now after another few courses of antiobiotics i am not any better. Doctors have now basically said i need to put up with it. Any advice on what to do next?
Hi i have been suffering from bleeding from the ear for over a year now. I have had loads of antibiotics and have been referred to ENT who said i have an inner and outer ear infection. Months later i still have bleeding from the ears and the ENT doctor has basically told me that i will just need to put up with it. i am at my wits end with it and need it dealt with.
Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/
it was about 6 months ago i got very painful ears i wen to the doctors and she asked if i was a swimmer because people who swim alot get it more often but i dont swim and but my doctor said i prone to it i have very strong a good drops which clear it up when i get it but i cant let water get into my ear canal or else it starts to itch and get wrose and very painful and has a horrible liqud that comes out there are many trements for otitis externa some work for different people other dont and i have always had troble with my ears form a young age and still do but i have medcine to treat it and i hardly get it now.
Hi, I have a 3 year-old child and since he was born he has had large quanities of dark brown wax coming from his ears the left side more than the right. In the last 6 months his ears haven't suffered from infection but before this period he was having infections every 3-4 months. I'm not sure whether this is normal or not - the doctor says it is but I have asked around and other people think this is very unusual. Should I be concerned?
i suffer from otitis externa, its started a year and half ago when i got a bad ear infection on holiday in margarita, when i returned home i had constant ear infections, i would go to the doctors get antibiotics and ear drops and it would dissapear for a week and then return. my ears got really itching and started weeping alot. it was only 3 months ago that a doctor decided to do a swab and it showed that i had candida in my ears. i was treated for that but then my ears starting playing up again this time i was in agony and was prescribed oral anti biotics and ear drops again along with oramorph for the pain. it got so bad i went to an out of hours ent specialist, the explained everything to me, gave me micro suction, put a wick in my so the drops would actually go where needed to be and not drip out. everything cleared up for a few weeks but now its back again and im losing my hearing. ive done everything the doctors have told me to do, i dont get my ears wet, i dont use cotton buds, i try not to itch my ears but still i have problems and im fed with it, i dont know how much longer i can put up with this. i suffer from depression any way and this ear problems just drags me down. i wish some one would give me a long term solution.
hi, it was about 3years ago when i noticed my ear was itching alot in the inner canal, i just thought it was an itch nothing more until the dreaded fluid like wax started ouzing out! this i found extremely embarrased about as i felt the whole world was starring at me and i even stopped going out. i have had numerous diagnostics from my doc and have now been told its otitis externa. i have been using otimize ear spray of which i apply as soon as i get that itch to hold it back. Its not nice to have i hate it and have accepted that i will have this for the rest of my life...i wish there was a cure! I also beleive that it is contagious as my girlfriend now has it..is that true? can it be contagious if the fluid gets on some1 else?
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