Otitis externa; malignant

Alternative names:

malignant otitis externa; osteomyelitis of the skull

Symptoms:

• drainage from the ear
  • yellow, yellow-green, pus, foul smelling
  • persistent

• hearing loss
• ear pain
  • may worsen on head movement
  • may be located deep within the ear

• itching of the ear or ear canal

Signs and tests:

Inspection of the ear may show otitis externa. The head around and behind the ear may be tender to touch. Neurological examination may show involvement of cranial nerves.

A culture of drainage may show bacteria or fungus, usually the bacteria Pseudomonas.

A head CT scan, skull X-rays, MRI scan of the head, or radionuclide scan may show osteomyelitis (bone infection) adjacent to the ear canal.