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Swimmer's Ear
WARNING:
If you already have an ear
infection, or if you have ever had a perforated or otherwise injured
eardrum, or ear surgery, you should consult an ear, nose, and throat
specialist before you go swimming and before you use any type of ear
drops. If you do not know if you have or ever had a perforated,
punctured, ruptured, or otherwise injured eardrum, ask your ear
doctor.
Causes Of Swimmer's Ear
Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear structures. It
typically occurs in swimmers, but the since the cause of the infection
is water trapped in the ear canal, bathing or showering may also cause
this common infection. When water is trapped in the ear canal,
bacteria that normally inhabit the skin and ear canal
multiply, causing infection and irritation of the ear canal. If the
infection progresses it may involve the outer ear.
Symptoms Of Swimmer's Ear
The
most common symptoms of swimmer’s ear are mild to moderate pain that
is aggravated by tugging on the auricle and an itchy ear. Other
symptoms may include any of the following:
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Sensation that the ear is blocked or full
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Drainage
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Fever
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Decreased hearing
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Intense pain that may radiate to the neck, face, or side of the head
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The outer ear may appear to be pushed forward or away from the skull
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Swollen lymph nodes
Treatment Of Swimmer's Ear
Treatment for the early stages of swimmer’s ear includes careful
cleaning of the ear canal and eardrops that inhibit bacterial growth.
Mild acid solutions such as boric or acetic acid are effective for
early infections.
For
more severe infections, if you do not have a perforated ear drum, ear
cleaning may be helped by antibiotics. If the ear canal is swollen
shut, a sponge or wick may be placed in the ear canal so that the
antibiotic drops will be effective. Pain medication may also be
prescribed.
Follow-up appointments with your physician are very important to
monitor progress of the infection, to repeat ear cleaning, and to
replace the ear wick as needed. Your otolaryngologist has specialized
equipment and expertise to effectively clean the ear canal and treat
swimmer’s ear.
Prevention Of Swimmer's Ear
A dry
ear is unlikely to become infected, so it is important to keep the
ears free of moisture after swimming or bathing. Removable earplugs,
sometimes worn for hearing protection, can be used to keep moisture
out of the ear canal. Q-tips should not be used for this purpose,
because they may pack material deeper into the ear canal, remove
protective earwax, and irritate the thin skin of the ear canal
creating the perfect environment for infection.
The
safest way to dry your ears is with a hair dryer.
If you
do not have a perforated eardrum,
rubbing alcohol or a 50:50 mixture of alcohol and vinegar used as
eardrops will evaporate excess water and keep your ears dry.
Before using any drops in the ear, it is important to verify that you
do not have a perforated eardrum. Check with your otolaryngologist if
you have ever had a perforated, punctured, or injured eardrum, or if
you have had ear surgery.
People with itchy ears, flaky or scaly ears, or extensive earwax are
more likely to develop swimmer’s ear. If so, it may be helpful to have
your ears cleaned periodically by an otolaryngologist.
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WHY DO EARS ITCH?
An itchy ear is a maddening symptom. Sometimes it is caused by
a fungus or allergy, but more often it is a chronic
dermatitis (skin inflammation) of the ear canal.
One type is seborrheia dermatitis, a condition similar to
dandruff in the scalp; the wax is dry, flaky, and abundant. Some
patients with this problem will do well to decrease their intake
of foods that aggravate it, such as greasy foods, carbohydrates
(sugar and starches), and chocolate.
Doctors often prescribe a cortisone eardrop at bedtime when the
ears itch.
There is no long-term cure, but it can be kept controlled
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Material provided courtesy of the American Academy of Otolaryngology —
Head and Neck Surgery |
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