Acute otitis externa vs cellulitis/erysipelas
Appears 1×
Teaching point — how the wording changes the answer
Early itching of the ear before pain or discharge suggests acute otitis externa. Cellulitis is tender and painful; erysipelas presents as a well-demarcated, raised, red painful plaque. Use the symptom timeline and skin morphology to discriminate.
Q2
Child with redness behind one ear and a 4-hour history of mild itching. Diagnosis?
Key clue
Itching precedes pain/discharge = otitis externa
Show answer
Acute otitis externa