Brief overview of otitis externa, causes, symptoms, when to seek help, and prevention strategies.
Swimmers Ear / Otitis Externa
Swimmers ear is an infection in the outer ear canal, often caused by water retention in the ear canal. The medical name for this is otitis externa. It is more common in children, but anyone can get it. The ear canal appears swollen with a soggy cardboard appearance on examination.
Causes
Essentially, it is caused by moisture sitting in ear canals that do not have an optimal environment or have had some form of trauma (I’m looking at you cotton buds!).
This condition may occur after swimming, showering, exposure to humid environments and even sweating as these things can contribute to a moist environment in the ear.
Otitis externa is often precipitated by broken skin. There are also a few conditions that also contribute to this such as eczema, psoriasis, smoking or some physical reasons such as scratches, sticking foreign bodies in your ears. When the skin is irritated, it may break down and allow the overgrowth of micro-organisms such as bacteria or fungi.
Symptoms
The most common symptom is ear pain, which may get worse when the earlobe is pulled or pressed on. The ear canal may look swollen and red, and you may experience a feeling of fullness in your ears that may can affect your hearing.
How we can help
If you are experiencing ear pain then is it best to see your GP for treatment, this may consist of antibiotic drops and steroids to reduce the inflammation in the ear. We then can provide ear micro suctioning to remove the debris and allow for better uptake of the medication. A follow up appointment is important to ensure that the infection has resolved before going back to swimming.
Once you have treated your ear infection you need to keep water out of your ears for up to a month. This allows time for the ears to regenerate its natural protective layer again.
Prevention is better than cure
Prevention largely lies on keeping moisture out of ears or taking steps to dry up the ear canal after water exposure.
Keep ears dry in the shower, and during bathing and swimming. This can be done by wearing a shower cap, using cotton wool with vaseline or a blue tack plug in the shower and wear well-fitting custom-made ear plugs when swimming.
Dry your ears well after exposure to water; wipe the ear with a soft towel, tip your head to the side to facilitate the drainage of water. You may use a hair dryer on the lowest setting, at least a foot away from your ear, for 30 seconds.
STOP putting things in your ears which may cause injury to the ear canal.
Buy a solution that is specifically designed to dry out the ear canal and hinder the growth of bacteria, these are available in pharmacies.
