What are the symptoms of otitis externa?

What symptoms belong to otitis externa? When it comes to this issue, many friends are very concerned, because they know that the incidence of otitis externa is actually very high in our human body, so clearly understanding the specific symptoms of otitis externa will help us accurately diagnose otitis externa in the future. In fact, research shows that there are many symptoms of otitis externa, so we must carefully distinguish them.

Otitis externa is a common disease of the human ear and can occur in most people. However, many times, when a person suffers from otitis externa, he or she often delays the treatment of the disease because he or she is not very clear about the symptoms of otitis externa. So, in response to this question, let's talk about what symptoms belong to external otitis?

1. Foreign body in the external auditory canal

It is more common in children, but can also occur in adults. It is mostly caused by ear picking or external injuries, as well as insect invasion. Foreign matter can be divided into non-living things, plants and animals. If the foreign body is small and non-irritating, it can remain for a long time without causing any symptoms. Large foreign objects can block the ear canal and cause hearing loss and a feeling of fullness. Sometimes it causes dizziness, tinnitus, and ear pain, or causes skin damage. Generally speaking, foreign matter can be easily found during inspection.

2. Neoplasms in the External Auditory Canal

Benign tumors include external auditory canal papilloma, external auditory canal cholesteatoma, external auditory canal osteophyte, hemangioma, fibroma, cerumen adenoma, etc.; malignant tumors include adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, malignant melanoma, etc. In addition, chronic suppurative otitis media can lead to the growth of polyps in the tympanic cavity, which may prolapse from the perforation of the tympanic membrane to form growths in the external auditory canal.

3. Redness, swelling and ulceration of the external auditory canal

Common lesions are external auditory canal furunculosis and diffuse external otitis, which are respectively called ear furunculosis and ear sore in traditional Chinese medicine. The former is manifested by localized redness and swelling, obvious pain, protrusions like pepper eyes or pus spots on the top, while the latter is manifested by diffuse redness and swelling, ulceration, and abundant yellow-white secretions.

4. Abscess in the external auditory canal

Pus may be caused by lesions in the external auditory canal itself, or it may be caused by pus from middle ear lesions flowing out from the perforation of the tympanic membrane and accumulating in the external auditory canal. Generally speaking, pus with a sticky texture is mostly a middle ear disease, while pus with a non-sticky texture is mostly an external ear disease. External ear diseases include external auditory canal furunculosis, diffuse external otitis and external ear eczema, while middle ear diseases are mainly acute and chronic suppurative otitis media.

5. Narrow external auditory canal

In addition to congenital causes, chronic diffuse external otitis and external ear eczema often cause the skin of the external auditory canal to thicken and become narrow, which often affects hearing.

6. Collapse of the posterior superior wall of the external auditory canal bone segment

It often indicates the presence of cholesteatoma in the external auditory canal or the formation of chronic suppurative otitis media mastoiditis.

7. Cerumen embolism

The skin of the cartilaginous part of the external auditory canal has cerumen glands with a structure similar to sweat glands that can secrete cerumen, which is commonly known as earwax or earwax. It has the function of protecting the skin of the external auditory canal and adhering foreign objects. Under normal circumstances, it can be discharged from the ear through chewing, opening the mouth and other movements. However, if earwax is secreted excessively or its discharge is blocked, it will gradually accumulate into clumps and form earwax embolism.

The common symptoms caused are blockage of the external auditory canal, resulting in hearing loss and possible ear pain; if the location is too deep and the eardrum is stimulated, tinnitus and dizziness may occur. During the examination, black or brown earwax may be seen in the external auditory canal, which may be soft like wax or hard like stone.

The different symptoms introduced above are common symptoms of otitis externa, so everyone should understand these symptoms of otitis externa. Only in this way can we make accurate and timely judgments on otitis externa based on these symptoms when we encounter otitis externa, so as to ensure that otitis externa can be treated in a timely manner.