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Immediately contact the ENT registrar to arrange an urgent ENT assessment for:
- Ear discharge with moderate to severe persistent ear pain, persistent headache, cranial nerve neuropathy or facial palsy
- Malignant otitis externa
- Suspected skull base osteomyelitis
- Cellulitis of the pinna
- Suspected mastoiditis
- Osteitis ear.
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
- Non-painful discharging ear for longer than two weeks that fails to settle with treatment.
- Otorrhea clear discharge
- Cholesteatoma.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- Microscopy, culture and sensitivity (MCS) ear swab.
Provide if available
- History of smoking
- Excessive alcohol intake.
Additional comments
The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
Where appropriate and available the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.
Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for
- Waxy ear discharge.