Often referred to as "swimmer’s ear" or otitis externa, this infection affects the outer ear canal and can occur in people of all ages. However, it is particularly prevalent among swimmers, children, and individuals with certain ear conditions. Understanding otitis externa, its causes, and its symptoms is crucial for effective prevention and treatment. What is Otitis Externa? Otitis externa is an infection or inflammation of the external auditory canal, the passage leading from the outer ear to the eardrum. Unlike middle ear infections (otitis media), which occur deeper in the ear, otitis externa specifically affects the outer part of the ear. The disease can be acute, appearing suddenly and resolving within a few weeks, or chronic, persisting for over three months. The condition typically results from an infection caused by bacteria or fungi that thrive in the moist environment of the ear canal. It can lead to swelling, redness, and irritation of the ear canal, causing discomfort and, in some cases, pain. The inflammation can also result in temporary hearing loss due to ear canal blockage by swelling or discharge.

Otitis media, commonly known as a middle ear infection, is frequent, especially among young children. It occurs when the area behind the eardrum, known as the middle ear, becomes inflamed or infected. While anyone can develop otitis media, it is particularly prevalent in children due to their ears' anatomy and susceptibility to upper respiratory infections. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for otitis media is crucial for parents and caregivers, as prompt and appropriate care can prevent complications and ensure a speedy recovery.

Meniere’s disease is a long-term condition of the inner ear that affects hearing and balance, and requires a trio of symptoms to make the diagnosis. About 1 in 1,000 people are affected by it, and most commonly occurs between the ages of 40 and 60 although it can occur at any age. One ear only is usually affected initially but about 40% of cases go on to affect both ears. (It is named after the French doctor who first described it in the 1860s.) The first is vertigo, where you feel as though the environment is spinning around you, or that you are spinning when you are standing still. The second is tinnitus, a ringing in the ear, and you may also get a feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear. The third is hearing loss that comes and goes, usually affecting one ear at a time. Meniere's typically come on without warning and episodes can last between 20 minutes and 24 hours - although the average length of an attack is 2-4 hours - causing severe nausea or vomiting. Unfortunately, Meniere's is a progressive disease that gets worse over time. The episodes may happen in clusters in a week or over months or even years, with most sufferers having 6-10 clusters a year. Some people only have vertigo without any hearing loss but hearing loss without vertigo is uncommon in Meniere’s.

The inner ear contains a system of tube loops and sacs called the labyrinth, as well as vestibular nerves that send information to your brain. These all help control your balance and hearing. Inflammation of the labyrinth in the inner ear creates a condition called labyrinthitis and is most commonly caused by a viral infection. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea and sickness, sudden hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), blurry vision and feeling light-headed. You may experience vertigo, where it feels like you are in constant motion or the room is spinning (it feels a bit like you’re on a boat in a stormy sea.)

Ear infections are very common in children and most likely comes with a viral cold. Your child might feel unwell with a fever, sickness, and feeling of their food. Ear infections usually affect the middle ear, which we call otitis media. The pain comes as products of infection and inflammation build up behind the eardrum, pushing it. They may complain that hearing comes and goes, or they may feel pain on the cheek side of the ear or under it, which might be worse when eating. It’s usually just one ear affected. Sometimes infections affect the outer part of the ear. This may be the case if you have symptoms of wetness with white or yellow discharge, and the ear may feel itchy or sore just inside. This points more towards otitis externa, where the ear canal leading to the eardrum is infected.

Ear infections are common and most likely the result of a virus. You might feel unwell with a fever and a low appetite. Ear infections often affect the middle ear, which we term otitis media. The pain comes as infection and debris from our own inflammatory response builds up behind the eardrum, pushing it. This gives a feeling of fullness, earache, and hearing may come and go. You may feel pain on the cheek side of the ear or under it, and it might be worse when eating. It’s usually just one ear that is affected. Sometimes infections affect the outer part of the ear. This may be the case if you have symptoms of wetness with white or yellow discharge, and the ear may feel itchy or sore just inside. This points more towards otitis externa, where the ear canal leading to the eardrum is infected.

BPPV stands for ‘benign paroxysmal positional vertigo’ and literally means dizziness when changing position, and without any sinister underlying cause. So, ‘benign’ means harmless, ‘paroxysmal’ means it’s sudden and brief, and ‘positional’ because the vertigo (the feeling like you’ve just got off a fairground ride) is triggered by changes in your head position. The inner ear is a series of tubes that give us our sense of balance, as well as hearing, and in BPPV, tiny crystals collect in the tubes, disrupting this. It’s the most common cause of vertigo, the sensation of the room spinning around you. This gives brief episodes of dizziness lasting less than a minute, and usually triggered by certain head movements. BPPV can also cause a loss of balance and nausea or vomiting. BPPV is more common the older you get, and in most cases occurs as a result of age-related degeneration of the ear system. About a third of the population will have experienced BPPV by the time they’re 70, with the peak age being in the 50s and 60s. It’s rare in children and young adults. There’s no specific cure for BPPV, but it’s not usually a sign of anything serious, and will usually get better on its own after several weeks although it can come and go.