What is acute otitis externa commonly known as?

• A. Meniere's disease
• B. Otitis media
• C. Swimmer's ear
• D. Ear infection due to wax buildup

Answer: (C)

Acute otitis externa is an infection of the external auditory canal. The common name for this condition is swimmer’s ear, reflecting how it often follows water exposure when the canal remains damp, creating an environment that lets bacteria grow. This makes swimmer’s ear the most fitting everyday label for the scenario described.

Meniere’s disease, by contrast, is an inner ear disorder that causes vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating hearing loss. Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear behind the eardrum, typically presenting with deep ear pain and a vision of a swollen, bulging eardrum. Ear problems due to wax buildup involve cerumen impaction rather than infection. So swimmer’s ear specifically points to an infection of the external ear canal.