Diseases of the ear may include a wide range of conditions, since many types of tissue are represented in the ear and its adjacent parts.
Any disease occurring in the skin, cartilage, bone, mucous membrane, nerves, and blood vessels may appear in or near the ear.

Eczema and Skin Infections.

Eczema and skin infections are common in the external ear.

The external auditory canal is especially susceptible because it is dark, warm, and moist.

Eczema is often quite resistant to treatment. Its chief symptoms are scaling and cracking of the skin with itching, burning, and a possible discharge.

Infections of the external ear are annoying, since the rigid wall of the canal and closeness of the skin to the bone make it difficult for a boil or an inflammatory reaction to expand.

Thus, a tiny boil, which scarcely would be noticed in a softer part of the body, might frequent in the external auditory canal.

Middle Ear Infections.

Middle ear infections (otitis media) are usually spread form the nose and throat by way of the connecting channel known as the Eustachian tube.

The eardrum becomes red, tense, and painful. Pus may accumulate in the middle ear cavity. The eardrum may be surgically incised (myringotomy) so as to allow drainage, or it may rupture spontaneously.

These infections usually respond well to treatment with antibiotics, although in some cases they may progress to mastoiditis, meningitis, brain abscess, or other serious infections that may make surgery urgent.

Middle ear and mastoid infections may become chronic and, while continuing in a mild state for many years, are constantly a potential menace to the patient.

The use of plastic drainage and ventilation tubes through the ear has reduced the incidence of recurrent infections.

An important complication of middle ear infections is conductive hearing loss.

A patient may appear to be entirely well after treatment with penicillin or other antibiotics but may retain a little coagulated fluid in the middle ear.

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This results in a hearing loss just severe enough to cause strain and fatigue and poor understanding of speech, but not severe enough to be readily detected.

This situation is known as secretory otitis media and may cause a child to do poorly in school.

It is readily corrected by making a small incision in the eardrum and drawing off the fluid.

Repeated infections of this sort may result in the formation of permanent adhesions in the ear, or it may lead to partial destruction of the drum or ossicles.

These situations are corrected by a variety of ear operations grouped under the term tympanoplasty.

Middle ear infections may also cause tinnitus, a spontaneous ringing or other noise in the ear.

Tuberculosis and Syphilis of the Ear.

Tuberculosis and syphilis occur in the ear nearly always in association with occurrence of the same disease elsewhere in the body.

Cancer of the Ear.

Cancer may occur in any part of the ear, but it is not frequent. Benign tumors may also occur and require surgical removal.

Meniere's Disease.

Meniere's disease is a condition of the inner ear characterized by loss of hearing, tinnitus, and dizziness.

The dizziness may range from a mild whirling sensation and an unsteadiness of gait to attacks of vertigo and total loss of equilibrium.

The eyes may also have a rhythmic jerking motion, a phenomenon known as nystagmus.

Some cases of Meniere's disease are treated by surgical destruction of the labyrinth although many, even severe ones, respond to a medical regime.

Otosclerosis.

Otosclerosis is a disease of the bone of the inner ear, which prevents proper mobility of the footplate of the stapes, thus causing a conductive hearing loss.

In many cases a significant improvement in hearing can be obtained by surgical means.