MedicineNet

Otitis Externa Center - West Des Moines, IA

West Des Moines Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor Doctors for Otitis Externa

Type of Physician: Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor

What is a Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor?

A certification by the Board of Otolaryngology; practitioners provide comprehensive medical and surgical care of patients with diseases and disorders that affect the ears, the respiratory and upper alimentary systems (nose, mouth and throat) and related structures.

Specialty: Ear, Nose & Throat (Otolaryngology)

Common Name: Ear, Nose, Throat Doctor

Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor Doctors in West Des Moines *

ENT Clinic of Iowa PC
Heidi L Close
1455 29th St
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 267-1800

ENT Clinic of Iowa PC
Douglas R Hoisington
1455 29th St
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 267-1800

ENT Clinic of Iowa PC
Thomas Paulson
1455 29th St
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 267-1800

ENT Clinic of Iowa PC
Timothy C Simplot
1455 29th St
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 267-1800

ENT Clinic of Iowa PC
Robert Warner
1455 29th St
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 267-1800

ENT Clinic of Iowa PC
Simon K Wright
1455 29th St
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 267-1800

ENT Clinic of Iowa PC
Eytan Young
1455 29th St
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 267-1800

Mercy Ear Nose & Throat
Marshall C Greiman
1601 NW 114th St
STE 230
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 222-7761

Mercy Ear Nose & Throat
Corey W Mineck
1601 NW 114th St
STE 230
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 222-7761

Mercy Ear Nose & Throat
Matthew Morgan
1601 NW 114th St
STE 230
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 222-7761

The Iowa Clinic Ear Nose &Throat Center
Steven R Herwig
5950 University Ave
STE 265
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 875-9450

The Iowa Clinic Ear Nose &Throat Center
Richard Merrick
5950 University Ave
STE 265
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 875-9450

The Iowa Clinic Ear Nose &Throat Center
Richard Rinehart
5950 University Ave
STE 265
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 875-9450

The Iowa Clinic Ear Nose &Throat Center
Douglas L Schulte
5950 University Ave
STE 265
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 875-9450

The Iowa Clinic Ear Nose &Throat Center
Mark K Zlab
5950 University Ave
STE 265
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 875-9450

Iowa Ear Clinic
Michael J Hart
1000 73rd St
STE 21
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 223-7177

Dennis Porto MD
Dennis P Porto
6000 University Ave
STE 230
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 222-0677

Koch Facial Plastic Surgery
Brenton B Koch
535 40th St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 277-5555

McFarland Clinic ENT
Reason Ford
1215 Duff Ave
ENT
Ames, IA 50010
(515) 239-4480

McFarland Clinic ENT
Stephen Griffith
1215 Duff Ave
ENT
Ames, IA 50010
(515) 239-4480

McFarland Clinic
Renald M Bernard
800 Ohio St
Webster City, IA 50595
(515) 832-9400

Leopoldo E Delucca MD PC
Leopoldo E Delucca
804 Kenyon Rd
STE 200
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
(515) 576-5000

Iowa ENT & Sinus Surgery Center
Felix Edward Gonzales
804 Kenyon Rd
STE N
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
(515) 576-3100

Tracey G Wellendorf Ent MD
Tracey G Wellendorf
405 S Clark St
STE 215
Carroll, IA 51401
(712) 792-4368

West Des Moines, Iowa

Upcoming Local Events

2012-06-10
2012-06-17
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Urbandale
Throughout Urbandale, Iowa
2012-06-23
2012-06-30
Weimarunner K9-5K
West Des Moines, Iowa
2012-08-12
2012-09-02
2012-09-02
2012-11-11
2012-11-11

Swimmer's Ear

What is "swimmer's ear" or acute external otitis?

External otitis or "swimmer's ear" is an infection of the skin covering the outer ear and ear canal. Acute external otitis is commonly a bacterial infection caused by streptococcus, staphylococcus, or pseudomonas types of bacteria. The swimmer's ear infection is usually caused by excessive water exposure. When water collects in the ear canal (frequently trapped by wax), the skin will become soggy and serve as an inviting culture media for bacteria. Cuts or abrasions in the lining of the ear canal (for example, from cotton swab injury) can also predispose to bacterial infection of the ear canal.

What are the symptoms of swimmer's ear?

The first symptom of infection is that the ear will feel full, and it may itch. Next, the ear canal will swell and ear drainage will follow. At this stage the ear will be very painful, especially with movement of the outside portion of the ear. The ear canal can swell shut, and the side of the face can become swollen. Finally, the glands of the neck may enlarge, making it difficult or painful to open the jaw. People with swimmer's ear may experience a decreased capacity for hearing in the affected ear.

What is chronic swimmer's ear?

Chronic (long-term) swimmer's ear can be caused by a bacterial infection, a skin condition (eczema or seborrhea), fungus (Aspergillosis), chronic irritation (such as from the use of hearing aids, insertion of cotton swabs, etc), allergy, chronic drainage from middle ear disease, tumors (rare), or it may simply follow from a nervous habit of frequently scratching the ear. In some patients, more than one factor may be involved. For example, a patient with eczema may subsequently develop black ear drainage. This would be suggestive of an accompanying fungal infection.

The standard treatments and preventative measures, as noted below, are often all that is ...

Recommended Reading Related to Swimmer's Ear

Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip »

Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip Introduction

Cleft lip and cleft palate are facial and oral malformations that occur very early in pregnancy, while the baby is developing inside its mother. Clefting results when there is not enough tissue in the mouth or lip area, and the tissue that is available does not join together properly.

A cleft lip is a physical split or separation of the two sides of the upper lip and appears as a narrow opening or gap in the skin of the upper lip. This separation often extends beyond the base of the nose and includes the bones of the upper jaw and/or upper gum.

A cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth. A cleft palate can involve the hard palate (the bony front portion of the roof of the mouth), and/or the soft palate (the soft back portion of the roof of the mouth).

Cleft lip and cleft palate can occur on one or both sides of the mouth. Because the lip an...

Emergency Contact for West Des Moines

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby West Des Moines Hospitals *

Mercy Franklin Center
1818 48th St
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515)271-6000

Blank Children's Hospital
1200 Pleasant St
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515)241-5437

Iowa Methodist Medical Center
1200 Pleasant St
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515)241-6212

VA Central Iowa Health Care Des Moines
3600 30th St
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515)699-5999

Broadlawns Medical Center
1801 Hickman Rd
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515)282-2200

Mercy Medical Center Des Moines
1111 6th Ave
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515)247-3121

Iowa Lutheran Hospital
700 E University Ave
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515)263-5612

Madison County Healthcare System
300 Hutchings St
Winterset, IA 50273
(515)462-2373

Dallas County Hospital
610 Tenth St
Perry, IA 50220
(515)465-3547

Mary Greeley Medical Center
1111 Duff Ave
Ames, IA 50010
(515)239-2011

Boone County Hospital
1015 Union St
Boone, IA 50036
(515)432-3140

Story County Medical Center
630 Sixth St
Nevada, IA 50201
(515)382-2111

*Provider Directory Terms of Use:

The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval.

You are prohibited from using, downloading, republishing, selling, duplicating, or "scraping" for commercial or any other purpose whatsoever, the Provider Directory or any of the data listings or other information contained therein, in whole or in part, in any medium whatsoever.

The Provider Directory is provided on an "AS-IS" basis. WebMD disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, WebMD does not warrant or represent that the Provider Directory or any part thereof is accurate or complete. You assume full responsibility for the communications with any Provider you contact through the Provider Directory. WebMD shall in no event be liable to you or to anyone for any decision made or action taken by you in the reliance on information provided in the Provider Directory.

The use of WebMD Provider Directory by any entity or individual to verify the credentials of Providers is prohibited. The database of Provider information which drives WebMD Provider Directory does not contain sufficient information with which to verify Provider credentials under the standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) of the Utilization Review Accreditation Committee (URAC).

By using the WebMD Provider Directory, you agree to these Terms and Conditions.