PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF THE EXTERNAL EAR AND AUDITORY-CANAL

Primary care physicians are influential in diagnosing and initiating t reatment of most pathologic conditions in patients with a history of h earing loss, chronic ear infection, diabetes, immunosuppression, or ot ologic symptoms with excessive exposure to sunlight. Lesions of the ex ternal ear and the external auditory canal (external acoustic meatus) are significant and common. Patients with such a history should have a thorough basic examination, which can be done with simple tools. Symp toms of hearing loss, otalgia, otorrhea, tinnitus, aural fullness, ver tigo, and facial weakness may warrant referral of the patient to an ot olaryngologist. The crux of preventing worsening otologic sequelae is early detection and treatment.