External Otitis
Medical management
Definition
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Nursing management
Causes
Diagjostic tests
Symptoms
Examination of the pinna.
Irritation
Fungal infections
Earphones, earings, or hearing aids
Allergies
Hair sprays
Regularly getting water in your ear
Contact with cosmetics
Itchiness in the ear canal.
A discharge of liquid or pus from the ear.
Ear pain, which can be severe.
Some degree of temporary hearing loss.
Gram stain and culture of any discharge from the auditory canal.
Atosopic or atomicroscopic examination of the ear canal.
Blood Glucose Level
Phyisical examination
Urine dipstick
External otitis is a painful condition caused when irritating or infective agents come into contact with the skin of the external ear.
The most common infections organisms are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Aspergiccus.
External otitis occurs more often in hot, humid environment.
Swelling of the ear canal can lead to temporary hearing loss due to obstruction.
Patients who have traumatized their external ear canal with sharp or small objects are also more susceptible to external otitis.
The affected skin becomes red, swollen, and tender to touch or movement.
NSAIDs, such as acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin, Entrophen) and ibuprofen.
This can be accomplished by using towels with warmed water.
Wrap the towel in a plastic bag or use a heating pad and place it on a low setting.
Nursing priorities includes comfort measures, such as applying heat to the ear for 20 minutes 3-times a day.
Teach the patient that minimizing head movements reduce pain.
Management focuses on reducing inflammation, edema, and pain.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Abenol)
Analgesics, including opioids.
Topical antibiotic and steroids therapies are most effective in decreasing inflammation and pain.
Instilling ear drops