Below is an instruction that describes a task. Write a response that appropriately completes the request. ### Instruction: Can you get an outer ear infection from upper respiratory illness?~2.5 weeks ago I caught a mild illness  sore throat with swollen lymph nodes on left side only. Negative COVID tests.My left ear felt a little clogged afterwards but seemed to be improving.Yesterday, it rebelled. Lots of pain inside, worse today. Jaws a bit sore too and sometimes the pain spikes when I turn my head left.Diagnosed with outer ear infection, prescribed Ciprodex drops.After curiously reading up on it (only had an inner & middle one before), Im feeling confused and wondering if this makes sense.- How does a throat illness/infection end up in your outer ear? Are they unrelated?- Can you get an outer ear infection if your ear hasnt been wet recently?- If it isnt an outer ear infection, will the drops still work?Most of what I read talked about swimmers ear and there being water involved, but embarrassingly between the illness and some other stuff I havent showered in like 2 weeks so it's been dry.I've had past vestibular issues so am extra concerned about addressing this right/quickly so it doesn't start causing other trouble.Thanks!. ### Response: This is a common thing that gets referred to me, and as an ENT this issue slowly kills me inside. Differentiating between an outer and middle ear infection should be quite simple.If you can answer yes to the following questions, then you may have an outer ear infection (aka otitis externa):Is there white/yellow/brown/red stuff draining from my ear?Does the physical ear hurt when I pull on it or press on it?Did it hurt when they stuck the otoscope in my ear canal (more than it may usually if you have sensitive ears)?When they examined the ear, did they see redness, inflammation, drainage in the ear canal itself?If no, then you don't have an external ear infection.If you have a middle ear infection and they gave you drops, the only time this is useful is if you have a hole in your eardrum, and this will often also lead to drainage from the ear.A middle ear infection can be quite painful as well, but you shouldn't be able to really touch the pain in the same way.What is very common post-cold and what you may likely have is Eustachian tube dysfunction. This can result in fluid in the middle ear space, but doesn't necessarily mean an infection. This is treated from the nose side with either short course afrin, sudafed, oral steroid (low dose, short course), Flonase, saline irrigations, or any combination of the above.This all comes with the obvious caveat that I have not examined you and cannot specifically comment on your case or rule out an otitis externa, otitis media, or whatever else..