Otitis externa

-To diagnose, A doctor will check to see if pulling the earlobe gently or pushing the tragus causes pain.
-If these symptoms are present, you can be pretty sure it's an external ear infection and not otitis media.
-The doctor can often make the diagnosis simply by looking in the ear with the otoscope.
-A lab culture may be ordered to identify the particular organism only if the first treatment recommended by the doctor doesn't seem to be working.