Swimmer's ear with right tragal tenderness is often accompanied by which symptom?

Swimmer's ear with right tragal tenderness is often accompanied by which symptom?

• A. Otic itching
• B. Fever
• C. Jaw pain
• D. Otitis media

Answer: (A)

Swimmer’s ear is otitis externa, an inflammation of the external auditory canal. The tragal tenderness reflects canal involvement, and itching in the ear canal is a very common accompanying symptom because the inflamed skin in the canal becomes irritated and itchy. Fever is not typically present with simple otitis externa, jaw pain isn’t a hallmark feature, and otitis media is a middle-ear infection with different signs (often deeper ear pain or hearing changes) and not tied to tragal tenderness. So itching of the ear canal best fits the picture.

Swimmer’s ear is otitis externa, an inflammation of the external auditory canal. The tragal tenderness reflects canal involvement, and itching in the ear canal is a very common accompanying symptom because the inflamed skin in the canal becomes irritated and itchy. Fever is not typically present with simple otitis externa, jaw pain isn’t a hallmark feature, and otitis media is a middle-ear infection with different signs (often deeper ear pain or hearing changes) and not tied to tragal tenderness. So itching of the ear canal best fits the picture.