Swimmer's ear otitis externa is an inflammation or infection of the ear canal, the passage that leads from the outer ear to the eardrum. This condition is called swimmer's ear, because it commonly occurs in people who have been swimming. But other people can get it too. You can get swimmer's ear when bacteria or fungus grows in your ear canal. This happens when water, sand, or other small debris irritates the delicate skin in the ear canal.
Other things that can irritate the ear canal include hearing aids, lots of ear cleaning, and eczema of the ear canal. Swimmer's ear is more likely if you have a very narrow or hairy ear canal; live in a warm, humid climate; have little or no earwax; have lots of ear infections; or have eczema or dry skin.
If you have had swimmer's ear in the past, you are more likely to get it again. Swimmer's ear can be very painful. The pain can get worse when you touch the earlobe or another part of the outer ear or when you chew. Other symptoms can include itching, a feeling of fullness in the ear, and a yellowish or brownish discharge from the ear. Your ear canal may be swollen. In severe cases, the outer ear can be red and swollen too. If you think you have swimmer's ear, call your doctor to find the best way to treat it.
If you have diabetes or take medicine that suppresses your immune system, swimmer's ear can cause severe problems. Call your doctor right away.
A doctor can usually tell whether you have swimmer's ear by looking into your ear and asking questions about your symptoms. Follow these tips when treating swimmer's ear:. Putting fingers, cotton swabs or other objects in your ears also can lead to swimmer's ear by damaging the thin layer of skin lining your ear canal.
Swimmer's ear is also known as otitis externa. Usually you can treat swimmer's ear with eardrops. Prompt treatment can help prevent complications and more-serious infections. Swimmer's ear symptoms are usually mild at first, but they can worsen if your infection isn't treated or spreads. Doctors often classify swimmer's ear according to mild, moderate and advanced stages of progression.
Swimmer's ear is an infection that's usually caused by bacteria. It's less common for a fungus or virus to cause swimmer's ear. Your outer ear canals have natural defenses that help keep them clean and prevent infection. Protective features include:. With prescription ear drops, your symptoms typically improve within 24 hours and are gone in two or three days. OTC over-the-counter ear drops, commonly containing isopropyl alcohol and glycerin, often focus on helping the ear dry out quicker as opposed to fighting the infection.
According to experts , prescription ear drops containing antibiotics or steroids are more effective for otitis externa than OTC disinfectant ear drops. Some suggest mixing 1 part white vinegar with 1 part rubbing alcohol to assist drying and halt bacterial and fungal growth.
The recommended dosage is pouring 1 teaspoon of the mixture into each ear and then letting it drain back out. The acidity of the vinegar discourages the growth of bacteria. If you have one or all of these symptoms, call your doctor. If you also have severe pain or develop a fever , seek immediate medical help. Malignant otitis externa requires immediate hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics. Some techniques include:.
Over-the-counter OTC and homemade drops can be part of a prevention program that includes other ways of keeping water out of your ears, such as earplugs and swim caps. It will carry ear drops into the ear more effectively.
If you have a severe infection, you might also get antibiotic liquid or pills to swallow. Your doctor may send some of the fluid draining from your ear to a lab to find out which germ is causing the infection. At home, follow your doctor's directions for using ear drops and take all doses of antibiotic medicine as prescribed. Keep taking these for all days of treatment, even if you start to feel better. If you stop too soon, the infection could come back. You can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for ear pain.
If they don't help, let your doctor know. You'll only need pain medicine for a day or two — until the ear drops and antibiotics begin to work.
To protect your ear while it heals, your doctor will probably tell you to keep your ears dry for several days or weeks — even while showering or shampooing! This can be tough, but your doctor can give you suggestions on how to do this, such as using a cotton ball covered in petroleum jelly as an earplug.
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