ENT

20 learning units • 100 chapter sections • 200 explained questions. Assess ear, nose and throat symptoms, recognise urgent complications and plan safe treatment, referral and rehabilitation.

Original RAHBAR study material for the Year 4 learning pathway. Clinical cases support supervised undergraduate learning. Treatment choices, doses and procedures must follow current local protocols and the responsible clinical team. References & further reading ↓

MODULE 03 / 20

External Ear Disease & Otitis Externa

Assess canal inflammation, select safe local treatment and recognise invasive infection.

Choose an answer and check it immediately. Change your choice to try again. This is a self-study exercise; results are not saved.

Question 01. Which finding commonly supports otitis externa? A. Pain on tragal pressureB. A normal canal with isolated jaw clickingC. Painless chronic near blurD. A neck mass alone

Question 02. Which factor can predispose to otitis externa? A. Appropriate hearing protection aloneB. Canal instrumentation and water exposureC. Reading in dim lightD. A normal intact canal barrier

Question 03. What commonly treats uncomplicated otitis externa? A. Immediate mastoid surgery for everyoneB. Long-term systemic steroids aloneC. No assessment of the earD. Appropriate topical therapy with canal care

Question 04. Why establish tympanic membrane integrity before choosing ear drops? A. All drops are identicalB. It determines spectacle powerC. Some preparations may be unsafe in an open middle earD. It replaces allergy assessment

Question 05. A swollen canal prevents adequate treatment delivery. What may be needed? A. Repeated blind probing by anyoneB. Forceful irrigation regardless of historyC. Permanent abandonment of treatmentD. Trained canal care or wick placement

Question 06. Severe nocturnal ear pain with discharge in diabetes suggests concern for what? A. Necrotising otitis externaB. Simple presbycusis aloneC. Normal ageingD. Uncomplicated nasal allergy

Question 07. A new cranial nerve deficit with severe otitis externa requires what? A. Routine review after a monthB. Only a new hearing-aid batteryC. Urgent specialist escalationD. Reassurance if pain fluctuates

Question 08. Does the term necrotising otitis externa mean cancer? A. Yes, by definitionB. No, it describes an invasive infectionC. Only in older patientsD. Only when discharge is present

Question 09. Painful pinna cartilage swelling after piercing suggests what? A. Otitis media with effusionB. Vestibular migraineC. PerichondritisD. Presbycusis

Question 10. Persistent otalgia with a normal ear examination should prompt what? A. Automatic reassurance foreverB. Assessment for referred head-and-neck sourcesC. Diagnosis of wax without seeing itD. Ear irrigation regardless of findings

0 / 10 answeredReady for assessment →

References & Further Reading

Read the relevant guideline sections alongside these original clinical teaching cases. Local pathways, available services and individual patient factors determine care.

Reference review: 28 September 2026. Consult current local protocols for prescribing, procedures and escalation.