You’ll need to lie down while you put your ear drops into your ear. The following tips can help to prevent malignant otitis externa: Symptoms may include: This isn’t usually available at your GP practice, so you would need to be referred on to a specialist by your GP. They may ask you to move your ear or jaw to see if you feel pain. For more details on how we produce our content and its sources, visit the 'About our health information' section.

You can get an outer ear infection at any age. Your pharmacist can show you how to use them properly.

For more information, see our FAQ further down the page: What is malignant otitis externa?If you have any of these symptoms, contact your GP surgery. But they may also be caused by a fungal infection, irritation or eczema in or around your ear canal. Talk to a travel expert

You will need to be monitored during this time and continue antibiotics until imaging procedures no longer show inflammation. Any information about a treatment or procedure is generic, and does not necessarily describe that treatment or procedure as delivered by Bupa or its associated providers.The information contained on this page and in any third party websites referred to on this page is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice nor is it intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment.

Malignant otitis can be life-threatening if it isn’t treated. Malignant otitis externa occurs when swimmer's ear spreads beyond the ear canal and causes a tissue or bone infection of the skull, including the temporal bone. If you have an acute infection, your symptoms should clear up completely within a week. So if you think you have too much earwax, ask your pharmacist for advice.

See our section on Cleaning your ear canal above for more details. Your GP or nurse may look into your ear using an instrument called an otoscope to check for any swelling and an infection.

Complications of acute otitis externa (AOE) require urgent identification and treatment as they can potentially be life threatening. Microsuction is when a very small vacuum sucker is used to gently remove wax from your ear under a microscope. We do not accept advertising on this page. If you have a lot of discharge, and do use cotton wool, keep the cotton wool loose and change it regularly. It also aims to stop the infection coming back. You can buy some of these from a pharmacy without a prescription. You may also have a high temperature, headache, ear discharge and dizziness. See our FAQ: What is malignant otitis externa?

Don’t use cotton buds or other objects to clean out your ear.

Malignant otitis externa (MEO) is a rare complication of

Several factors could cause this to happen including: Most short-term (acute) outer ear infections clear up with the right treatment. Bupa is not responsible for the content or availability of these third party websites. It can help ear drops reach inside your ear and may prevent further infections.

Other than these, the following are the sign and symptoms: The pain range of Otalgia extends from mild to severe gradually increasing within 1 to 2 days. You may also notice some loss of movement of the muscles in your face. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and are only available via prescriptionOver-the-counter painkillers are painkillers that you can buy from a pharmacy or shop, without needing a prescription from your GP.Tinnitus is when you hear sound that isn’t caused by an outside source.