Acute Otitis Externa Podcast: Part 2
This podcast highlights an updated Clinical Practice Guideline on Acute Otitis Externa (swimmer’s ear) appearing as a February 2014 supplement in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation. Editor in chief Richard Rosenfeld is joined by authors Geoffrey Simon, a pediatrician, and Kaparaboyna (Ashok) Kumar, a family physician, in discussing implications for primary care clinicians and how to optimize interaction with specialists.
Description
Patients with acute otitis externa (AOE), commonly known as “swimmer’s ear,” may enter the healthcare system in many ways, which include consulting a pediatrician, internist, family physician, emergency physician, dermatologist, or an otolaryngologist – head and neck surgeon. Regardless of the initial point of contact, there is a tendency to underestimate the associated pain and to not provide appropriate counseling on pain relief. Referral to an otolaryngologist is useful when precise cleaning of the ear canal, placement of a cellulose wick, or both, are needed to ensure effective delivery of topical therapy to the entire ear canal. Treatment failures may also benefit from prompt referral to ensure that AOE has not been misdiagnosed and another cause of otalgia overlooked. All clinicians who treat patients with AOE should provide information on what to expect from treatment and how to properly administer ear drops for maximum effect. Teaching materials in the guideline created for this purpose are emphasized in the discussion.
