External ear: diffuse otitis externa: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · External ear: diffuse otitis externa

Sample item

A swimmer has an itchy, painful ear with a narrowed oedematous canal and tragal tenderness. What is the best initial treatment?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Aural toilet and topical antibiotic-steroid drops with a wick if needed

Acute diffuse otitis externa is treated by cleaning the canal, topical antibiotic-steroid drops and keeping the ear dry. A wick helps drops reach a swollen canal. Systemic therapy is reserved for cellulitis or immunocompromised patients.

Option by option

  • A. Aural toilet and topical antibiotic-steroid drops with a wick if needed (correct)

    Correct. Cleaning and topical therapy is the standard treatment.

  • B. Mastoidectomy

    Mastoidectomy is for mastoid disease, not otitis externa.

  • C. Systemic aminoglycoside

    Systemic aminoglycosides are unnecessary and ototoxic.

  • D. Oral antifungal therapy

    Oral antifungals are not first-line for bacterial otitis externa.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Aural toilet and topical antibiotic-steroid drops with a wick if needed. Acute diffuse otitis externa is treated by cleaning the canal, topical antibiotic-steroid drops and keeping the ear dry.

Why is "Mastoidectomy" not the answer?

Mastoidectomy is for mastoid disease, not otitis externa.

Why is "Systemic aminoglycoside" not the answer?

Systemic aminoglycosides are unnecessary and ototoxic.

Why is "Oral antifungal therapy" not the answer?

Oral antifungals are not first-line for bacterial otitis externa.

What concept does this question test?

It tests External ear: diffuse otitis externa in ENT. A wick helps drops reach a swollen canal. Systemic therapy is reserved for cellulitis or immunocompromised patients.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study External ear: diffuse otitis externa?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.