Doctor Column

Swimmer’s Ear: ‘External Otitis’ explained symptoms: Causes and Treatment July 20, 2025 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Swimmer’s ear, also known as external otitis, is an inflammation, or infection of the ear canal, the area between the external ear, and the eardrum. It’s called “swimmer’s ear” because it’s often initiated by water trapped in the ear canal after swimming or bathing, which creates a friendly environment for bacteria, and fungi to grow. Swimmer’s ear — acute external Otitis May 18, 2015 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Acute External Otitis (AEO), known as Swimmer’s Ear, is a diffuse infection of the ear canal usually due to bacteria, which at times causes horrific pain. It can spread beyond the ear to the jaw and neck glands making it difficult and painful to open your mouth, chew and swallow. A Parent’s checklist guide to hearing loss (Part 2) January 2, 2015 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Hearing loss is the most common birth defect in the US. Parents are encouraged to be proactive about a child’s hearing, speech and language development. These are some of the steps a parent can take to tract your child’s development. Doctor, can My child hear? (Part 1) January 2, 2015 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Matthew was diagnosed as having hearing loss while still in the hospital, one day after he was born. It later proved to be a profound, permanent (nerve) type of hearing loss. HC SMART: PSA Screening for Prostate Cancer (Part 2) January 2, 2015 Faith Lee-Jackson, MD Elevated PSA levels must be interpreted thoughtfully and with care. There is not a level of PSA that is specifically diagnostic of prostate cancer. To use PSA in order to estimate a man’s risk of prostate cancer, PSA should be interpreted over time and in the context of other risk factors; such as a strong family history of prostate cancer and African-American ethnicity. Middle ear infections: Otitis Media (OM) December 15, 2014 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Otitis Media (OM) is a serious disease. It is an inflammation or infection of the middle ear -namely- that air filled cavity located behind the eardrum and in front of the inner ear. Several vital structures occupy this middle ear space and one of them is important for our ability to hear and another is the nerve that controls facial movements.