(a) Acute otitis externa - occurs following a disturbance in the normal acidic condition of the ear canal secondary to a complex interaction of host and environmentaol factors and not lasting more than 6 weeks. Acute otitis externa may be diffuse or localized. Acute diffuse OE is the most common form of OE started generally within 48 hours with symptoms of otalgia, itching, ear fullness, with or without hearing loss or jaw pain. Signs include tenderness of the tragus or pinna or diffuse ear edema or erythema or both, with or without otorrhea, regional lymphadenitis, tympanic membrane erythema, or cellulitis of the pinna. In acute localized OE, also known as furunculosis is associated with infection of a hair follicle
