title: Management of acute ear infections.
abstract: The differential diagnosis between the usual acute otitis externa and acute suppurative otitis media is presented. Other important and sometimes frequently seen entities that present as infections in the ear are also discussed. It is emphasized that a patient complaining of ear pain with normal findings on examination must be more thoroughly investigated because of the possibility of a more ominous condition such as carcinoma of the pharynx.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000175:diagnosis; D001768:Blister / Q000175:diagnosis; D001935:Branchioma / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004424:Ear Canal; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000293:injuries; D004630:Emergencies; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D013577:Syndrome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents