ear, nose, and throat disorders
External Otitis (Acute)
Diagnosis of Acute External Otitis
Clinical evaluation Diagnosis of external otitis is based on inspection. When discharge is copious, external otitis can be difficult to differentiate from an acute, purulent Otitis Media (Acute) with tympanic membrane perforation; pain elicited by pulling on the pinna may indicate an external otitis. Fungal infection is diagnosed by appearance or culture. 