ear, nose, and throat disorders
Ear Canal Infection (Swimmer's Ear)
Symptoms of Ear Canal Infection
Symptoms of acute external otitis include pain, redness, and discharge. The discharge is unpleasant-smelling and white or yellow and drains from the ear. The ear canal may have no swelling or slight swelling, or in severe cases, it may be swollen completely closed. If the ear canal swells or fills with pus and debris, hearing is impaired. Usually, the canal is tender and hurts if the external ear (pinna or auricle) is pulled or tugged or if pressure is placed on the fold of skin and cartilage in front of the ear canal (tragus). Fungal ear canal infection causes more intense itching than pain, and people have a feeling of fullness in the ear. Fungal infection caused byAspergillus nigerusually appears as grayish black or yellow dots surrounded by a cottonlike material in the ear canal. Fungal infection caused byCandida albicansdoes not cause any visible fungi to form but usually causes a thick, creamy white discharge. Boils cause severe pain. When they rupture, a small amount of blood and pus may leak from the ear. 