KARAKTERISTIK PENDERITA OTITIS EKSTERNA DI RUMAH SAKIT UMUM DAERAH M.M DUNDA LIMBOTO KABUPATEN GORONTALO PERIODE JANUARI-DESEMBER 2021 = CHARACTERISTICS OF OTITIS EXTERNA PATIENTS AT M.M DUNDA LIMBOTO REGIONAL GENERAL HOSPITAL, GORONTALO DISTRICT, JANUARY-DECEMBER 2021 PERIOD

Background : Otitis externa is defined as an inflammatory process of the outer ear canal, which can also involve the pinna and tympanic membrane (Rosenfeld et al., 2014), which is more often caused by an acute bacterial infection (Gore, 2018). Several risk factors that can cause otitis externa are: environments with high humidity levels, swimming, absence of cerumen,
and trauma to the ear canal due to excessive cleaning (Gore, 2018).
General Objective : to determine the characteristics of otitis externa sufferers at M.M Dunda Limboto Hospital
Methods : The research was conducted in a retrospective descriptive manner using secondary data from post mortem results recorded at the M.M. Regional General Hospital. Dunda Limboto for the January-December 2021 period.
Research Results: Based on the results of the study, it was shown that the early adult age group (26-35 years) was the age group with the most otitis externa sufferers, namely 20 (21.3%), female sex was the most common sex of patients with otitis externa, namely 59 (62.8%) %), the type of deep otitis externa was the most common type of otitis externa, namely 51 (54.3%), patients with otitis externa had clinical symptoms in the form of ear pain as many as 47 (50%), the results of otoscopic examination in patients with otitis in the form of ear canal edema were 31 (33%).
Conclusion : Based on the results of the research that has been done, several conclusions are obtained, including; female sex is the most common sex in otitis externa sufferers, the early adult age group (26-35 years) is the age group with the highest number of otitis externa sufferers, deep otitis externa is the most common type of otitis externa experienced by otitis externa sufferers, the most clinical symptoms Often experienced by sufferers of otitis externa is ear pain. Edema of the ear canal is the most common result of otoscopic examination in otitis externa patients.
Suggestion : It is hoped that future researchers will carry out in-depth research on all variables that can influence the occurrence of otitis externa in otitis externa patients and can conduct research in large numbers. So that it is more useful in the development of science in the field of medicine and health.

Keywords : Otitis externa, inflammation, otoscopy, external acoustic meatus, infection.