Dermatitis and Fungal Infections of the Outer Ear

Ear infections are a leading cause of health complications among children under the age of ten. For many, the complication involves proper fluid drainage and ear pressure in the inner ear. For some children, however the complication may be associated with an outer ear infection, either fungal or bacterial.

Bacterial and fungal infections of the outer ear most commonly affect children in the age range of seven to 12 years of age. While prior to this age, your child experienced infections in the inner ear, the complications with outer ear infection appear in late childhood.

If you live in an area of the country that experiences warmer temperatures for most of the year, and is high in humidity, your child may be at a greater risk. Most commonly, children age seven to 12, who live in the Gulf Coast region, including Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana, are at greatest risk for outer ear infections.

When diagnosed with an outer ear infection, your child's pediatrician will need to, first, clear any obstruction in the outer ear, such as ear wax or cerumen. Once the implication of an inner ear infection is ruled out, the outer ear infection is then treated with antimicrobial ear drops, oral antibiotics and over-the-counter pain relievers for pain. This treatment is very similar to that of the inner ear infections.

Dermatitis in and around the ear may be the culprit behind your child's outer ear infection complications. Use of metal earrings, use of hearing aids, some types of shampoos and soaps, and even general complications including psoriasis, can lead to chronic outer ear infection. With antimicrobial ear drops, elimination of the item or condition that may be prompting the complication, and avoiding the use of cotton swabs, are all ways in which to prevent recurrent infections.

In very rare cases, the complications of external ear infection may lead to necrotizing of the tissue and the risk for developing malignancy. Any evidence of abnormal tissue, swelling, edema or severe pain or redness should be evaluated immediately, especially if the ear complications are not improving with treatment.