Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (731 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Inflammation of the outer ear including the external ear canal, cartilages of the auricle (ear cartilage), and the tympanic membrane.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Externa, Otitis; External Ear Inflammation; Ear Inflammation, External; External Ear Inflammations; Inflammation, External Ear; External Otitis; External Otitides; Otitides, External.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Otitis
- See also
- Otomycosis
Related concepts
- Outer Ear
- Ear Canal
- Ear Cartilage
- Tympanic Membrane
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 2,818 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Otitis Externa” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 347 of them (12.3%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 1,466 records.
Reviews account for 302 records (10.7%) and meta-analyses for 9. Randomized controlled trials number 83 (2.9%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 1,466 |
| 2000-2009 | 508 |
| 2010-2019 | 497 |
| 2020 onward | 347 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 302 | 10.7% |
| Meta-analyses | 9 | 0.3% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 83 | 2.9% |
Method: PubMed query "Otitis Externa"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in eye, ear, nose and throat
Eye, hearing, nose and throat studies rely on specialist tests (visual acuity, eye pressure, audiograms, scopes) and on patient-reported symptoms, which vary between people and with age. Some conditions improve without treatment, so comparison groups matter. Nothing on this page is advice about diagnosis or treatment; sudden loss of sight or hearing needs urgent care from a qualified clinician. Check how the outcome was tested, the age of the people studied and how long they were followed.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topical anti-inflammatory effects of isorhamnetin glycosides isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica | 2015 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 62 | cc by PMID 25821823 · DOI · PMC4363586 |
| IL-36 signaling in keratinocytes controls early IL-23 production in psoriasis-like dermatitis | 2020 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 52 | cc by PMID 32345660 · DOI · PMC7190273 |
| Disorders of Bulldogs under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013 | 2019 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 36 | cc by PMID 31188857 · DOI · PMC6561557 |
| Facial Nerve Palsy in Malignant Otitis Externa Hospitalizations: Outcomes and Risk Factors | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 41503884 · DOI · PMC12948394 |
Topical anti-inflammatory effects of isorhamnetin glycosides isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) has been widely used in Mexico as a food and for the treatment of different health disorders such as inflammation and skin aging.
- Closing excerpt
- IGR seems to be a suitable natural compound for development of new anti-inflammatory ingredient.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (210 words)
Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) has been widely used in Mexico as a food and for the treatment of different health disorders such as inflammation and skin aging. Its biological properties have been attributed to different phytochemicals such as the isorhamnetin glycosides which are the most abundant flavonoids. Moreover, these compounds are considered a chemotaxonomic characteristic of OFI species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of OFI extract and its isorhamnetin glycosides on different inflammatory markers in vitro and in vivo. OFI extract was obtained by alkaline hydrolysis of OFI cladodes powder and pure compounds were obtained by preparative chromatography. Nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, and interleukin- (IL-) 6 production were measured. NO production was tested in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells while in vivo studies were carried on croton oil-induced ear edema model. OFI extract and diglycoside isorhamnetin-glucosyl-rhamnoside (IGR) at 125 ng/mL suppressed the NO production in vitro (73.5 ± 4.8% and 68.7 ± 5.0%, resp.) without affecting cell viability. Likewise, IGR inhibited the ear edema (77.4 ± 5.7%) equating the indomethacin effects (69.5 ± 5.3%). Both IGR and OFI extract significantly inhibited the COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-6 production. IGR seems to be a suitable natural compound for development of new anti-inflammatory ingredient.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 25821823 · DOI · PMC4363586
IL-36 signaling in keratinocytes controls early IL-23 production in psoriasis-like dermatitis [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- IL-36R signaling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
- Closing excerpt
- Taken together, our results demonstrate that IL-36R signaling in keratinocytes plays a major role in the induction of Aldara-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis by triggering early production of IL-23/IL-17/IL-22 cytokines and neutrophil infiltration.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (130 words)
IL-36R signaling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We ought to assess the specific function of IL-36R in keratinocytes for the pathology of Aldara-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis. Il36r ΔK mice presenting deletion of IL-36R in keratinocytes were similarly resistant to Aldara-induced ear inflammation as Il36r -/- mice, but acanthosis was only prevented in Il36r -/- mice. FACS analysis revealed that IL-36R signaling in keratinocytes is mandatory for early neutrophil infiltration in Aldara-treated ears. RNASeq and qRT-PCR experiments demonstrated the crucial role of IL-36R signaling in keratinocytes for induction of IL-23, IL-17, and IL-22 at early time points. Taken together, our results demonstrate that IL-36R signaling in keratinocytes plays a major role in the induction of Aldara-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis by triggering early production of IL-23/IL-17/IL-22 cytokines and neutrophil infiltration.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32345660 · DOI · PMC7190273
Disorders of Bulldogs under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013 [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The Bulldog is a popular companion breed in the UK despite widely reported disease predispositions.
- Closing excerpt
- Provision of an evidence base on the most common disorders and causes of mortality within breeds can support owners, breeders and the veterinary profession to improve health and welfare within these breed.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (229 words)
The Bulldog is a popular companion breed in the UK despite widely reported disease predispositions. This study aimed to characterise the demography, mortality and common disorders of Bulldogs under veterinary care in the UK during 2013. VetCompass collates anonymised clinical data from UK primary-care veterinary practices for epidemiological research. The clinical records of all Bulldogs available in the VetCompass study dataset were reviewed manually in detail to extract the most definitive diagnoses recorded for all disorders that existed during 2013 and for all deaths. Bulldogs comprised 1621 (0.36%) of 445,557 study dogs. Bulldogs increased from 0.35% of the 2009 birth cohort to 0.60% in 2013. Median longevity was 7.2 years, which was lower in males (6.7 years) than females (7.9 years) (P = 0.021). The most prevalent fine-level precision disorders recorded were otitis externa (n = 206, prevalence 12.7%, 95% CI: 11.1-14.4), pyoderma (142, 8.8%, 95% CI: 7.4-10.2) and overweight/obesity (141, 8.7%, 95% CI: 7.4-10.2). The most prevalent disorder groups were cutaneous (n = 463, prevalence: 28.6%, 95% CI: 26.4-30.8), ophthalmological (292, 18.0%, 95% CI: 16.2-20.0), aural (211, 13.0%, 95% CI: 11.4-14.8), enteropathy (188, 11.6%, 95% CI: 10.1-13.3) and upper respiratory tract (171, 10.5%, 95% CI: 9.1-12.1). Provision of an evidence base on the most common disorders and causes of mortality within breeds can support owners, breeders and the veterinary profession to improve health and welfare within these breed.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 31188857 · DOI · PMC6561557
Facial Nerve Palsy in Malignant Otitis Externa Hospitalizations: Outcomes and Risk Factors [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectiveTo provide a description of the occurrence of facial nerve palsy in hospitalizations for malignant otitis externa and to compare the demographic characteristics, hospital traits, comorbidities, and outcomes between patients with and without palsy.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings support the association of facial nerve palsy with heightened comorbidity burden.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (162 words)
ObjectiveTo provide a description of the occurrence of facial nerve palsy in hospitalizations for malignant otitis externa and to compare the demographic characteristics, hospital traits, comorbidities, and outcomes between patients with and without palsy.Study designRetrospective cross-sectional database study.Setting2016 to 2022 National Inpatient Sample (NIS).MethodsHospitalizations for malignant otitis externa were identified using ICD-10 diagnosis codes, and facial nerve palsy was identified using secondary diagnosis codes. Weighted discharge level rates of facial nerve palsy were calculated, and demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were compared between patients with and without facial nerve palsy.Results695 (12.4%) of 5,585 MOE inpatient stays involved facial nerve palsy. Stays involving palsy were significantly more likely to occur in older patients (71.16 ± 13.4 years vs 56.07 ± 21.1 years, P ConclusionOne in eight US inpatient stays for MOE involved facial nerve palsy, which was associated with older age, advanced comorbidities, longer hospitalizations, and increased care needs following discharge. These findings support the association of facial nerve palsy with heightened comorbidity burden.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41503884 · DOI · PMC12948394
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article The changing face of malignant (necrotising) external otitis: clinical, radiological, and anatomic correlations [5]
- Research article Malignant external otitis: insights into pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and therapy [6]
- Research article Malignant otitis externa [7]
- Research article Skull base osteomyelitis secondary to malignant otitis externa [8]
- Research article Otomycosis: Diagnosis and treatment [9]
- Research article Clinical practice guideline: acute otitis externa [10]
References
- Antunes-Ricardo M, Gutiérrez-Uribe JA, Martínez-Vitela C, Serna-Saldívar SO. Topical anti-inflammatory effects of isorhamnetin glycosides isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica. . 2015. PMID 25821823 · DOI · PMC4363586
- Goldstein JD, Bassoy EY, Caruso A, Palomo J, Rodriguez E, Lemeille S, et al.. IL-36 signaling in keratinocytes controls early IL-23 production in psoriasis-like dermatitis. . 2020. PMID 32345660 · DOI · PMC7190273
- O'Neill DG, Skipper AM, Kadhim J, Church DB, Brodbelt DC, Packer RMA. Disorders of Bulldogs under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013. . 2019. PMID 31188857 · DOI · PMC6561557
- Thompson ER, Saad AM, Haimowitz SZ, Abdel-Azim NH, Wong K, Filimonov A. Facial Nerve Palsy in Malignant Otitis Externa Hospitalizations: Outcomes and Risk Factors. . 2026. PMID 41503884 · DOI · PMC12948394
- Rubin Grandis J, Branstetter BF, Yu VL. The changing face of malignant (necrotising) external otitis: clinical, radiological, and anatomic correlations. Lancet Infect Dis. 2004. PMID 14720566 · DOI
- Rubin J, Yu VL. Malignant external otitis: insights into pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and therapy. Am J Med. 1988. PMID 3046354 · DOI
- Carfrae MJ, Kesser BW. Malignant otitis externa. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2008. PMID 18435997 · DOI
- Sreepada GS, Kwartler JA. Skull base osteomyelitis secondary to malignant otitis externa. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003. PMID 14502060 · DOI
- Vennewald I, Klemm E. Otomycosis: Diagnosis and treatment. Clin Dermatol. 2010. PMID 20347664 · DOI
- Rosenfeld RM, Schwartz SR, Cannon CR, Roland PS, Simon GR, Kumar KA, et al.. Clinical practice guideline: acute otitis externa. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014. PMID 24491310 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.