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An infection of the outer ear canal, which extends from your eardrum to the outside of your head, is known as swimmer’s ear. It’s frequently caused by water that stays in your ear, which fosters the growth of germs by creating a moist environment.
Swimmer’s ear can also result by sticking your fingers, cotton swabs, or other objects in your ears since doing so harms the delicate skin lining your ear canal.
Swimmer’s ear is characterized by the ear canal’s redness, ear pain, fluid drainage, and pus discharge. Surrounding tissue and bones may get infected if left untreated.
Otitis externa is another name for swimmer’s ear. Typically, eardrops can be used to treat swimmer’s ear. The prevention of complications and more severe infections can be aided by prompt treatment.
Symptoms
Symptoms of swimmer’s ear are typically modest at first, but if your infection is not treated or spreads, they could get worse. Swimmer’s ear is frequently divided into mild, moderate, and advanced phases of progression by doctors.
Mild signs and symptoms
- Mild pain that gets worse when you tug on your outer ear (pinna or auricle) or push on the tragus, the small “bump” in front of your ear.
- Ear canal itchiness
- Minimal redness in your ears
- Some discharge of odorless, clear fluid
Moderate signs and symptoms
- Increased pain
- Increased itchiness
- More degree of ear redness
- Reduced or muffled hearing
- A sensation of fullness in your ear and a partial obstruction of your ear canal due to fluid, swelling, and debris
Advanced signs and symptoms
- Fever
- Your outer ear is swollen or red.
- Inflammation of your neck’s lymph nodes
- A severe pain that may radiate to your face, neck, or side of your head
- A total obstruction in the ear canal
If you experience even minor swimmer’s ear symptoms or signs, call your doctor right once. However, if you experience fever or severe pain, call your doctor immediately or go to the emergency department.
Causes
Swimmer’s ear is typically brought on by bacteria. The likelihood of a virus or fungus causing swimmer’s ear is lower.
Natural defenses of your ear
Natural defenses in your outer ear canals maintain them clean and guard against infection. Among the safeguards are:
- A thin, water-repellent, slightly acidic film lines the ear canal and prevents the formation of microorganisms. Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a buildup of this wax-like substance, along with dead skin cells and various debris, that migrates to the entrance of the ear canal in order to maintain its cleanliness.
- The outer ear, aids in preventing the entry of foreign objects, especially at the ear canal opening.
The occurrence of infection
Your natural defenses have been overwhelmed if you have swimmer’s ear. The following circumstances frequently contribute to infection:
- The ear canal’s moisture, which provides the perfect conditions for bacterial growth.
- Contact with tainted water
- Damage to the delicate skin of the ear canal, which can result in an entry point for infections.
Risk factors
The risk of swimmer’s ear can be raised by a number of factors, including:
- Being exposed to contaminated water with high amounts of bacteria
- Ear devices, that can cause minor skin breaches, such as earbuds or hearing aids
- Excessive moisture in your ear canal caused by profuse sweat, persistently humid conditions, or water left in your ears after swimming
- Cleaning the ear canal with hairpins, cotton swabs, or fingernails, which can result in abrasions or scrapes.
Diagnosis
Swimmer’s ear may typically be identified by a doctor during an office visit. You may require more testing if your infection has progressed or if it keeps recurring.
Preliminary testing
Your physician will probably determine if you have swimmer’s ear based on the symptoms you describe, the questions they ask, and an office examination. At your initial appointment, a lab test is typically not necessary. Typically, the initial assessment by your doctor will cover:
- Using an otoscope to assess your ear. Your ear canal may look scaly, red, and swollen. The ear canal may contain skin flakes or debris.
- Checking your tympanic membrane (eardrum) for tears or other damage. Your doctor will use a tiny suction device or a tool with a tiny loop or scoop on the end to clean your ear canal if the view of your eardrum is obscured.
More tests
Your doctor might suggest additional testing, such as sending a sample of fluid from your ear to be tested for bacteria or fungus, depending on the results of the initial evaluation, the severity of the symptoms, or the stage of your swimmer’s ear.
Furthermore:
- Your doctor will probably recommend that you see an Ears, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist if your eardrum is injured or torn. If your middle ear is the major location of infection, the specialist will assess its status. This examination is crucial because several medications used to treat infections of the outer ear canal are ineffective when used to treat middle ear infections.
- If your infection fails to improve with treatment, during a subsequent appointment, your doctor might collect a sample of the earwax residue or discharge and forward it to a laboratory for identification of the specific bacteria causing the infection.
Treatment
Stopping the infection and allowing your ear canal to heal are the objectives of treatment.
Cleaning
To ensure that eardrops reach all diseased areas, your outer ear canal needs to be cleaned. Your doctor will remove any discharge, clumps of earwax, flaky skin, and other debris using a suction device or an ear curette.
Medications for infection
Depending on the kind and severity of your illness, your doctor may typically recommend eardrops that include any combination of the following substances for swimmer’s ear:
- Steroid to lessen inflammatory
- Acidic solution to assist in restoring the typical antibacterial environment in your ear
- Antibiotic to counteract bacteria
- Antifungal medication to combat fungus-caused infection
Find out from your doctor how to take your eardrops most effectively. The following are a few suggestions to utilize eardrops:
- To get the drops’ temperature closer to body temperature, hold the bottle in your palm for a while.
- For a few minutes, lay on your side with your infected ear up to facilitate medication passing completely through your ear canal.
- If at all feasible, ask someone to assist you in putting the drops.
- Pull the ear up and back before applying drops to a child’s or adult’s ear.
If swelling, inflammation, or excessive discharge have completely clogged your ear canal, your doctor may insert a cotton or gauze wick to encourage drainage and aid in delivering medication.
Your doctor may advise oral antibiotics if your infection is more severe or doesn’t improve with eardrop therapy.
Medications for pain
Your doctor may advise taking over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, or acetaminophen to reduce the discomfort of swimmer’s ear.
Your doctor might suggest a stronger painkiller if your discomfort is severe or if swimmer’s ear is more advanced.
While undergoing treatment, follow these steps to maintain ear dryness and prevent additional irritation:
- Refrain from swimming or engaging in scuba diving activities.
- Avoid using earplugs, hearing aids, or earbuds until the pain or discharge has ceased.
- Be cautious not to allow water into your ear canal when showering or bathing. Utilize a cotton ball with a layer of petroleum jelly to safeguard your ear while bathing or showering.
