What Is External Otitis?

External Otitis

Say: ek-STUR-nul oh-TY-tus

Also called: otitis externa (say: oh-TY-tus ek-STUR-nuh)

Many kids have had an ear infection known as external otitis. It's often called swimmer's ear, but you don't have to be a swimmer to get it.

The ear has 3 parts: the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. When the ear canal, which is part of the outer ear, gets infected, you have external otitis. It can make your ear hurt, especially when you touch it.