Otitis externa. Presentation and management.

Otitis externa is a common condition presenting in both general and hospital practice. Diagnosis and treatment are usually straightforward; however appropriate management requires recognition of predisposing and precipitating factors, effective cleaning of the external auditory canal and administration of suitable topical or systemic medication or both. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the clinical features and management of otitis externa with a discussion of the differential diagnosis.