What is a Swimmer's Ear?

We refer to it as "swimmer's ear" because frequent swimmers tend to get it. But anyone can develop it — particularly during the warmer months when many people are in the water more often.

If left untreated, a swimmer's ear can muffle hearing and, in severe cases, lead to temporary hearing loss. Treatment usually fixes any hearing problem caused by an infection. Healthcare professionals treat swimmer's ears with ear drops.

What are the signs and symptoms of otitis externa?

Symptoms of swimmer's ear are mild or severe and can include:

• A sense of fullness in your ear.
• Ear pain that might get worse when gently pulling on your earlobe.
• Fever
• Drainage of fluid from your ear.
• Itching within your ear.
• Hearing muffled.
• Swelling and redness in your outer ear.
• Swollen lymph nodes near your ear or neck area.

What causes a swimmer's ear?

Many things can lead to a swimmer's ear, but the most frequent cause is an activity that retains water in your ear canal. Bacteria and fungi love warm, wet locations, so water that remains in your ear canal is the ideal place for bacteria and fungi to call home, begin multiplying, and ultimately infect.

It's much more likely to develop a swimmer's ear due to a bacterium than a fungus. Occasionally, a combination of pathogens (germs that infect you and make you ill) will lead to a swimmer's ear. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are bacteria that may lead to a swimmer's ear. Fungi that can cause swimmer's ear are Candida and Aspergillus.

How is a swimmer's ear diagnosed?

A caregiver will check your ears for redness, swelling or other evidence of damage. If you have drainage from your ears, caregivers will take a specimen of the fluid so they can figure out what caused the infection. This is important information since bacterial infection and fungal infection are treated differently.

How do I get rid of my swimmer's ear?

Doctors most often prescribe ear drops to cure the infection. Your doctor may recommend these medications in your situation for otitis externa:

• Antibiotic ear drops to treat bacteria.
• Antifungal ear drops to treat fungi.
• Steroid ear drops to combat swelling.

You can also take pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®) without a prescription to make yourself feel more comfortable.

What are the risk factors for a swimmer's ear?

You're more likely to get a swimmer's ear if you:

• Have some skin conditions: Eczema or psoriasis in the ear canal puts you at higher risk for swimmer's ear.
• Hurt your ear: You hurt your ear canal when you insert objects in your ear to try to get rid of earwax. (Use your imagination here: cotton swabs, pens, bobby pins or paper clips.) These objects can scratch the ear canal and make infection more likely to occur.
• Live in a warm climate: Humid environments may predispose you to a swimmer's ear.
• Lose earwax: Earwax guards your ear canal against bacteria and fungi. You might lose earwax either because there is excess water in your ear or because you unknowingly clear too much earwax when cleaning your ears.
• Swim in freshwater: You can develop a swimmer's ear from swimming in pools. But freshwater swimming — swimming in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and oceans — puts you at greater risk because fresh water can have pollution and more bacteria than you'd encounter in a pool.
• Use earbuds or hearing aids: Hearing aids or earbuds can become dirty and contaminated with other substances, which makes ear infections more probable.

What are the complications of a swimmer's ear?

It is unlikely that a swimmer's ear would cause complications if you treat your symptoms right away. Still, they may happen. The following are complications:

• Long-term (chronic) ear infections: Medical professionals classify a swimmer's ear as a chronic ear infection if it persists for more than three months. If you have both a bacterial and a fungal illness, this could happen.
• Cellulitis (infection of the deep tissue): In severe cases, a swimmer's ear may penetrate other layers of the skin.
• Bone or cartilage destruction (early osteomyelitis): It is a rare complication that can occur if swimmer's ear infection becomes an outer ear infection. The infection will extend into adjacent cartilage and bone. It occurs predominantly in individuals whose immune systems are compromised.
• Advanced skull base osteomyelitis: If your ear infection keeps spreading to the lower bones of your skull, it can damage surrounding nerves, your brain and other parts of your body. It's unlikely that swimmer's ear will get worse and become osteomyelitis. Once that happens, though, it can be deadly.

Can a swimmer's ear be prevented?

Yes, and drying your ears is the best way to protect against swimmer's ear.

In order to lower your risk further, try these self-care suggestions about otitis externa:

• Swim in unpolluted water.
• Do not insert anything in your ear canal, even with cotton swabs.
• Water removal from the ears by tilting your head left and right, and by flexing your earlobe in varied directions.
• Dry your ears after showering, swimming or exposure to water. Use a clean towel or the low setting on a hairdryer.
• Use cotton balls to soak up excess water in your ears when you shower.
• Wear earplugs when you swim or are in the water.

What is the prognosis for individuals with swimmer's ear?

If you seek treatment, swimmer's ear is typically not serious. The infection should typically resolve itself in about a week. However, if you don't get treatment, complications—such as infection spreading—can happen. These complications often require stronger antibiotics or antifungals.

Swimmer's ear is an infection in your ear canal that will not resolve unless you do something about it. Unless you treat it, an infection of a swimmer's ear will travel to the base of your skull, your brain or your cranial nerves.

Since infection can spread past your outer ear, you should make an appointment with your healthcare provider when you have symptoms. The sooner you treat it, the better.

When do I need to visit my doctor?

If you notice any swimmer's ear symptoms, such as ear pain, drainage, itchiness, or muffled hearing, make an appointment with your doctor.

If a doctor has already prescribed ear drops for a swimmer's ear infection, call them if you still have symptoms 10 days later. You may need a stronger medication.

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for otitis externa treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital has the most trusted team of ENT Specialist and surgeons with advanced diagnostic equipment care for Otitis externa treatment in Lucknow, India. Our ENT department follows international safety standards and has years of experience in successfully managing ear related disease and conditions like otitis externa.

To seek an expert consultation for Swimmer’s Ear treatment in Lucknow, India

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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