[Otitis externa, a self-inflicted disease?].

Otitis externa, an inflammation of the external auditory canal is the most frequent cause of ENT consultation all over the world. It can be caused by viral, bacterial or fungal infections. In most of the cases it is provoked by anatomical causes and, even more frequently inadvertently, by the patient himself. Typically, otitis externa is an isolated episode of short duration, easily treated with topical medication. It evolves rarely to the atypical forms of chronic otitis externa and malignant otitis externa. It is important to search for an allergy, eczema or immunodepression in cases of chronic otitis externa and for diabetes in cases of malignant otitis externa.