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Otitis externa - Management
When should I refer or seek specialist advice for someone with localized otitis externa?
- Consider referral to secondary care:
- If relief of pain and swelling requires incision and drainage of the furuncle, and the resources and skills are not available in primary care.
- If there is inadequate response to oral antibiotic treatment.
- If cellulitis is spreading outside the auditory canal.
Basis for recommendation
- These recommendations are pragmatic advice as CKS was unable to find relevant evidence or guidelines.
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