General practice & prim · UKMLA & AKT
Otitis externa
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise otitis externa — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- Otalgia - often severe and disproportionate; worsened by moving jaw or tragus
- Pruritus - common early symptom, often precedes pain
- Otorrhoea - purulent (bacterial) or white/fluffy (fungal)
- Tragal tenderness - hallmark sign; pain on pressing tragus or pulling pinna
- Canal erythema and oedema on otoscopy; tympanic membrane may not be visible
Tragal tenderness distinguishes otitis externa from otitis media - in otitis media the ear canal and pinna are normal and pressing the tragus does not reproduce pain.
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