The inflammation of the outer ear canal, also known as otitis externa, affects the ear canal and can sometimes attack the pinna (visible part of the ear). It manifests as strong ear aches, urge to itch inside the ear, as well as reddened, swollen, and sometimes crusted skin in the outer ear. The condition is caused usually by an infection. Sometimes, irritation or allergy can be the cause.
In otitis externa, the inflammation is limited to the outside of the ear channel and does not spread beyond the eardrum. The condition is called often ‘swimmer’s ear’ since frequent contact to water can cause the ear tunnel to be more exposed to inflammation. Symptoms of otitis externa can improve within a few days with treatment and such short otitis externa is referred as ‘acute’ but some otitis externa can last for numerous months or maybe for longer and are referred as ‘chronic’.
It is predominantly adults who are affected, especially those with injuries to the ear canal, or who have not cleaned the ear properly, or who suffer from diabetes or immuno-deficiencies. This kind of infection is noticeable due to intense earaches and the urge to itch inside the ear. The skin of the outer ear canal can become red and swollen, much like a small skin nodule, blister (including pus-filled blisters), and crusted. Pulling on the earlobes and pressing on the outer ear are painful.
Diabetics are frequently affected by aggressive bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), which requires treatment with antibiotics over the course of several weeks. Treatment depends on the cause, which is not always known. Minor infections can be treated with vinegar water (one part vinegar, one part water) dripped into the ear. More serious cases can be treated with eardrops with antibiotics. An allergic inflammation of the outer ear canal can be treated with anti-inflammatory ear drops (such as cortisone).
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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