ear, nose, and throat disorders
Ear Canal Infection (Swimmer's Ear)
Diagnosis of Ear Canal Infection
A doctor's examination of the ear canal Sometimes culture of a sample from the ear canal The doctor bases the diagnosis of ear canal infection on the symptoms and an examination of the ear canal. To a doctor looking into the ear canal through an otoscope (a device for viewing the canal and eardrum), the skin of the canal appears red and swollen and may be littered with pus and debris. An infection caused by a fungus is also diagnosed based on examination or culture (a sample of the pus and debris is grown in a laboratory to identify the microorganisms). Sometimes fungal spores can be seen in the ear canal. 