Malignant otitis externa

Malignant otitis externa, also known as necrotizing otitis externa, is an invasive infection caused by bacterial infection, primarily Pseudomonas aeruginosa, of the external auditory canal, with the infection spreading to the adjacent temporal bone marrow and brain tissue. If the temporal bone or skull base is involved, it is called osteomyelitis of the skull base. The main symptoms include persistent severe ear pain at night and discharge from the external auditory canal.