1. Be able to list the differential diagnosis in a patient presenting with otalgia
Adapted from patient.co.uk
| Outer Ear Causes | Middle Ear Causes | Referred causes |
|---|---|---|
| Otitis externa | Otitis media | Nasopharynx |
| Foreign Body | Effusion secondary to otitis media | Cranial nerve |
| Trauma | Acute mastoiditis | Salivary glands |
| Impacted wax | Barotrauma | Teeth and jaw |
| Bullous myringitis | Acute obstruction of Eustachian tube | Base of skull |
| Hair follicle abscess (furuncle) | Neoplasm | Petrous aneurysms |
| Herpes zoster | Trauma | Oesophagus |
| Neoplasm | Oropharynx, tongue, larynx | |
| Otomycosis | Temporal arteritis | |
| Perichondritis of pinna | Thyroiditis | |
| Sjogren's syndrome |