Swimmer's ear is an infection of the ear canal. Men and women of all ages are affected equally, but children and teenagers most frequently develop this type of ear infection. It can be associated with a middle ear infection (otitis media) if the eardrum ruptures. Swimmer's ear is also known as Otitis externa. Swimming in polluted water is one way to contract swimmer's ear. The condition also can be caused by scratching (in) the ear or by an object stuck in it. Swimmer's ear infection occurs external to the ear drum in the ear canal. A rare but serious infection called malignant external otitis can develop if bacteria invade the bones inside the ear canal and spread to the base of the skull. Signs and symptoms of swimmer's ear usually appear within a few days of exposure to contaminated water. Ear pain is the most common symptom of Swimmer's Ear. In more serious cases, pain is accompanied by discharge from the ear and even some hearing loss due to swelling of the ear canal.
Swimmer's ear (otitis externa) is fairly common. If you have had swimmer's ear in the past, you have a higher risk of having it again. Moisture predisposes the ear to infection from water-loving bacteria such as Pseudomonas. Other bacteria, or rarely, fungus, can also cause infection. Most of the time, water can run in and out of the ear canal without causing a problem. A lot of swimming can wash away that wax protection and lead to these wet conditions in the ear canal. Bacteria grow and the ear canal gets red and swollen. When the ears are exposed to continual excessive moisture, many of the natural immune defences in the skin which line the ear canal are lost and, the ear becomes more susceptible to infection by bacteria.
Causes of Swimmer's ear
The common causes and risk factor's of Swimmer's ear include the following:
Swimmer's ear occurs when your ears have been in the water for long periods of time.
Bony overgrowths in the ear canal called exostoses.
Persistent moisture in your ear from swimming, bathing or living in a humid environment.
Use of stereo headphones inserted into the ear.
Bacteria growth fostered by hair sprays or hair dyes in your ear.
Frequent diving.
Skin problems, such as eczema, psoriasis, or seborrhea.
Symptoms of Swimmer's ear
Some sign and symptoms related to Swimmer's ear are as follows:
Decreased hearing.
Itching of your outer ear.
Swelling in your ear or lymph nodes in your neck.
Swollen ear canal.
Conductive hearing loss.
Redness of the outer ear.
Pus draining from your ear.
Fever is generally not present. If there is a fever, it is not usually high.
Treatment of Swimmer's ear
Here is list of the methods for treating Swimmer's ear:
Antibiotic ear drops or oral antibiotics.
Treatment for the early stages of swimmer's ear includes careful cleaning of the ear canal and eardrops that inhibit bacterial growth.
Pain medication.
Mild acid solutions such as boric or acetic acid are effective for early infections.
Analgesics may be used if pain is severe. Putting something warm against the ears may reduce pain.
For more severe infections, if you do not have a perforated ear drum, ear cleaning may be helped by antibiotics.
Apply heat to the ear to control the pain at home.
Otitis externa is commonly known as swimmer's ear. Otitis externa is a serious ear inflammation that can usually be treated very successfully with topical antibiotics. Acute external otitis is commonly a bacterial infection caused by streptococcus, staphylococcus, or pseudomonas types of bacteria.
Causes
Several things can make OE more likely including the following :- If you swim or shower a lot, too much water can get into your ears. Water removes the protective ear wax. Then it's easier for germs and fungus to grow. Cleaning your ears can remove the protective wax layer and lead to infection. If you injure the skin in the ear canal by putting your finger or some object in your ear, an infection can develop in the canal. Skin conditions such as psoriasis that occur in other parts of the body can also occur in the ear canal and cause OE. The infection is caused by bacteria or fungi. Water often has bacteria in it. After swimming, water sometimes stays pooled in the ear. Bacteria may start to grow and cause an infection. Bacteria are most likely to be found in rivers, lakes, and ponds.
External otitis is often caused by difficult-to-treat bacteria such as Pseudomonas. The infection spreads from the floor of the ear canal to the adjacent tissues and into the bones at the base of the skull.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of otitis externa are a sore and itchy ear, and slightly dulled hearing. Sometimes the ear may leak fluid (discharge) or there may be a build up of wax. The more you scratch the ear, the worse the swelling and infection gets. Fever is not common in typical cases of otitis externa.
Treatment
Treatment of otitis externa depends on the severity of the infection and how much pain the child feels. For milder cases, your child's doctor may prescribe eardrops that contain antibiotics to fight the infection and a steroid to reduce swelling of the ear canal. Treatment may include :- Pain medication keeping the ear dry, as directed by your child's physician A wick (a piece of sponge may be placed in your child's ear if there is a lot of swelling. This wick helps the antibiotic drops work more effectively in the ear canal.) Keep the ear dry for 7-10 days. Take baths instead of showers. Avoid swimming. Do not rub or scratch the ear or inside the ear canal.
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