Acute external otitis, also known as swimmer's otitis, is a painful infection of the ear canal that lies between the outer ear and the eardrum. It owes its name to the fact that it occurs very often when dirty water enters the ear canal of people who swim or bathe. It can also be the result of improper cleaning, which causes damage to the thin layer of skin that protects the ear. A moist environment in the ear canal allows the infection to take root. It is important to learn to recognize this disorder and find the right treatments before the infection becomes too painful and can spread.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Identify the Infection Early
Step 1. Look out for an itchy sensation
Itching in the outer ear and ear canal is the first sign of swimmer's otitis.
- Since the main cause of this infection is exposure to water, you need to be especially careful if itching develops during the days just following a swim.
- If the infection is of fungal origin, it is more itchy than bacterial.
Step 2. Check if the inside of the ear is red
If you notice slight redness, it is probably becoming infected.
In most cases, the infection develops in only one ear
Step 3. Pay attention to the discomfort
You may not feel actual pain, but even slight discomfort can be a sign of infection.
If the symptom gets worse when you pull on the pinna or press on the protrusion that is in front of the ear canal (tragus), there is a greater chance that it is an infection. The irritation experienced on the auricle and tragus is considered the classic symptom of swimmer's otitis
Step 4. Check for liquid
At this stage of the infection, any secretions that come out of the ear are still clear and odorless.
The secretions begin to quickly become yellowish and foul-smelling as the infection worsens
Step 5. Go to the doctor
At the first signs of infection, you need to be examined. Although this is not a condition that requires urgent medical attention, the infection can worsen to become quite painful, causing chronic damage to the ear and spreading throughout the body.
- There is a difference between swimmer's otitis, an ear infection usually caused by exposure to water, and otitis media, an infection that develops in the middle ear. The latter usually occurs after an upper respiratory infection or due to allergies. The doctor is able to determine the type of disease that is afflicting you and will be able to find the right treatments.
- Do not rely on the ear drops that you find on free sale. These usually do not contain effective active ingredients to treat the infection; instead you have to get a prescription for antibiotics or antifungal drops.
- The doctor will check the ear with an otoscope, which is gently inserted into the ear canal. This tool allows you to check the condition of the inside of the ear, as well as the eardrum membrane, which is not visible from the outside.
- He will also be able to take a fluid sample from the ear to define its nature. In this way, he will be able to determine if the infection is bacterial or fungal and then decide whether to prescribe antibiotics or antifungal drugs. The sample will be sent to a laboratory, but your doctor will advise you to start treatment with ear drops right away.
- Usually, antibiotic drops are prescribed to treat swimmer's ear, which also contain a steroid substance to reduce inflammation and pain. Your doctor will also advise you to manage the pain until the infection is cleared.
Part 2 of 3: Observe the Evolution of the Infection
Step 1. Evaluate the changes in sensation
As the disease progresses, you may experience increased itching and discomfort that becomes painful. This worsening of symptoms indicates that fluid and inflammation in the ear are increasing and the infection is no longer moderate.
- You may experience a feeling of fullness in the ear canal and partial obstruction due to the build-up of secretions.
- It may take a few days for you to experience this sensation, which can also be more intense when you yawn and swallow.
Step 2. Look for redness
As the infection worsens, the inner ear becomes increasingly red.
Step 3. Check for changes in secretions
They may begin to swell and become purulent.
Pus is a thick, yellowish liquid, usually foul-smelling, that oozes from infection. Use a clean tissue to remove it from the outer ear
Step 4. Check your hearing
Sometimes the perception of sounds is slightly reduced or muffled.
- This alteration is due to secretions blocking the ear canal.
- Cover your healthy ear and check if you hear normally with the infected one.
Part 3 of 3: Evaluating Late Infection Progression
Step 1. Prepare for increased pain
As the infection progresses, the pain can also spread to the face, neck, jaw, or head on the same side as the affected ear.
If your symptoms are severe, you need to see your doctor right away or go to the emergency room
Step 2. Expect to feel less
In this stage of otitis, the ear canal may become completely blocked, reducing the ability to hear from the infected ear.
Step 3. Pay attention to physical changes
The redness gets worse and the outer ear may become swollen and red.
Step 4. Check if your neck swells
As the infection progresses, the body's lymphatic system is activated to fight it. If the lymph nodes in the neck swell, this is a sign that the disease is getting worse.
Use the middle three fingers of your hand to check the lymph nodes. Gently press on the side of the neck and below the jaw line looking for swollen areas
Step 5. Measure the temperature
When the infection begins to spread to other parts, the body works hard to eradicate it. One of the ways to combat it is to raise the temperature to make the environment inhospitable to bacteria.
- Generally, we speak of fever when the temperature exceeds 37.3 ° C.
- There are several methods of measuring temperature, including the use of an ear thermometer. If you have an ear infection, however, you must insert the instrument into your healthy ear; the infection tends to naturally increase the temperature in the affected area, so you may get wrong results.
Advice
- To reduce the risk of otitis externa, avoid swimming in fresh water (instead of swimming pools, for example), especially if a public statement has been issued regarding a high bacterial load; wear ear plugs when swimming; put cotton balls in the ear canal when applying hair sprays or dyes; dry your ears thoroughly with a towel after wetting them; avoid putting anything inside them, including cotton swabs and fingers.
- You can find over-the-counter ear drops at the pharmacy to dry your ears after swimming. They can be useful if you go swimming often.
- In children who have narrower ear canals, water tends to get trapped more easily.
- Cotton swabs are the most common means by which a child contracts this infection.
- Ear infection is almost always caused by bacteria. Swimmer's otitis is generally due to "Staphylococcus aureus" or "Pseudomonas aeruginosa", which is the more common bacterium of the two. Only less than 10% of cases are caused by fungi.
