Browse categories and answer follow-up questions to refine your symptom profile.
Triage and immediate risks
Immediate stability screen
Airway compromise concern
Stridor
Drooling
Systemic toxicity concern
Fever with severe otalgia
Altered mental status
Complicated ear disease concern
Post auricular swelling
Facial weakness
Red flags and stop points
Escalation triggers
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss concern
Sudden hearing loss within 72 hours
Normal-appearing canal with unilateral hearing loss
Malignant otitis externa concern
Diabetes mellitus
Immunocompromised state
Severe otalgia out of proportion
Granulation tissue at bony cartilaginous junction
Mastoiditis or intracranial complication concern
Post auricular erythema or fluctuance
Proptotic pinna
Severe headache
Meningismus
Tympanic membrane perforation or middle ear access concern
Otorrhea
History of tympanostomy tubes
History of ear surgery
Procedural readiness
Preparation
Adequate lighting and visualization
Otoscope speculum size optimization
Head stabilization plan
Analgesia plan
Topical anesthetic option for canal tenderness
Oral analgesic option for significant discomfort
Contraindication check for irrigation
Known or suspected tympanic membrane perforation
Tympanostomy tube present or suspected
Prior mastoidectomy or canal wall surgery
Active otitis externa with marked canal edema
Single hearing ear
Uncooperative patient without safe immobilization
SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.