A client presents with redness, swelling, crusting, and scaling of the left pinna with scanty purulent discharge the day after swimming. The client has pain when the pinna and tragus are palpated. What condition should the nurse suspect?

A. Furuncle is a localized bacterial infection of a hair follicle, often presenting as a small, tender, red nodule with possible pus. While furuncles can occur on the outer ear, the client’s diffuse redness, swelling, and purulent discharge along with tragus pain are more consistent with a broader infection rather than a single follicle, so this is less likely. B. Otitis externa, also known as “swimmer’s ear,” is an infection of the external auditory canal. It often develops after swimming or prolonged moisture exposure, which explains the onset the day after swimming. Classic signs include redness, swelling, scaling, crusting of the pinna, purulent discharge, and pain that worsens with movement of the pinna or pressure on the tragus. The client’s presentation matches these hallmark features, making this the correct answer. C. Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear, typically presenting with ear pain, fever, hearing loss, and sometimes fluid behind the tympanic membrane, but it usually does not cause pain when the pinna or tragus is touched, and the external ear often appears normal. Therefore, otitis media is unlikely. D. Excessive cerumen (earwax buildup) can cause fullness, mild discomfort, or hearing loss, but it does not usually cause redness, swelling, purulent discharge, or pain with pinna/tragus manipulation. This rules out excessive cerumen as the cause.