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Article: Swimmer's Ear (Otitis External).
- Article from:
- Pediatrics for Parents
- Article date:
- November 1, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 Pediatrics for Parents, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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As we dive (literally) into summer, a common problem seen in children is swimmer's ear. Other common names for this condition are outer ear infection, ear canal infection, or, the proper medical term (for those of us that are proper), otitis externa.
The ear canal is the tunnel in the middle of our ear lobe that dead ends at the ear drum. The outer part of the tunnel is lined with thick, resistant skin and is slightly mobile when the ear is tugged. The inner two-thirds is lined with very sensitive, thin skin and is basically immobile when the earlobe is pulled.
Ear wax, medically called cerumen, but popularly labeled potatoes, carrots, and a variety of ...