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Malignant otitis externa - Prevention

Alternative Names

Osteomyelitis of the skull; Otitis externa - malignant

Prevention:

To prevent an external ear infection:

Dry the ear thoroughly after it gets wet.
Avoid swimming in polluted water.
Protect the ear canal with cotton or lamb's wool while applying hair spray or hair dye (if you are prone to getting external ear infections).
After swimming, place 1 or 2 drops of a mixture of 50% alcohol and 50% vinegar in each ear to help dry the ear and prevent infection.

Treat acute otitis externa completely. Do not stop treatment sooner than your health care provider recommends. Following your doctor's plan completely will reduce the risk of malignant otitis externa.

Ear anatomy

Reviewed last on: 10/10/2008
Alan Lipkin, MD, Otolaryngologist, Private Practice, Denver, Colorado. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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Malignant otitis externa - Prevention

Alternative Names

Prevention: