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Swimmer's Ear (Otitis Externa): Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
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When you duck your head underwater and end up with excess water retention in your ears, it may trigger an inflammatory response that could turn into an infection known as swimmer's ear, or otitis externa. Here's what you need to know about swimmer's ear, including its common causes, symptoms to watch for and treatments that can provide some relief.
What Is Swimmer's Ear?Otitis externa (OE) is an inflammation of the external ear canal that may sometimes spread to the outer ear. Symptoms usually appear a few days after swimming and may include swelling, redness and itchiness in and around the ear. Roughly 10% of people deal with OE at some point, according to research in the journal Deutsches Ärzteblatt International .
Swimmer's ear shouldn't be confused with a middle ear infection. With a middle ear infection, you can typically still wiggle your outer ear without discomfort or pain, which is not the case with swimmer's ear.
Otitis externa can either be infectious or non-infectious—depending on whether it's caused by bacteria or trauma, for instance—and it isn't contagious. (Contagious diseases are infectious, but not all infectious diseases are contagious.) The severity of OE ranges from mild to malignant (or necrotizing), the latter of which can be life-threatening.
Common Causes for Swimmer's Ear"Swimmer's ear is often caused by water exposure, which can come from swimming or flushing the ears," says Nicole Aaronson, M.D., a board-certified pediatric otolaryngologist at Nemours Children's Health in Wilmington, Delaware. Exposure to water can facilitate the growth of bacteria and fungus around the skin surrounding the ear canal, according to Dr. Aaronson. Bacteria causes more than 90% of otitis externa cases, according to research conducted in Germany . Germs from swimming pools or other bodies of water may also cause OE.
Potential causes of swimmer's ear include using another person's earbuds or wearing hearing aids without adhering to proper cleaning maintenance. Other causes include objects in the ear like cotton swabs or underlying skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis that may irritate the skin surrounding the ear canal, she suggests. "Prolonged use of antibiotic ear drops can also disrupt the normal bacterial flora of the ear canal and allow opportunistic bacteria and fungi to take hold," she adds.
Anyone with water retention in the ears is at risk for swimmer's ear, regardless of age. The occurrence of otitis externa tends to be higher among swimmers, explaining how the condition earned its nickname.
Swimmer's Ear Signs and SymptomsOtitis externa can result in the following symptoms, according to Dr. Aaronson:
OE is classified as either acute (lasting less than six weeks), chronic (lasting more than three months) or necrotizing. Symptoms differ slightly between acute and chronic OE. For instance, acute OE may present with symptoms like drainage, redness and severe pain while common symptoms of chronic OE include itchy, dry and scaly skin. Symptoms of necrotizing otitis externa, meanwhile, include ongoing drainage from the ear, trouble swallowing and fever.
A physical examination and review of your medical history with your health care provider can help provide a proper diagnosis and serve as a starting point for determining the most appropriate treatment plan.
Swimmer's Ear TreatmentsTreatments available for swimmer's ear include combination therapies like topical medications and the medical removal of debris and drainage, says Dr. Aaronson.
Depending on the type of OE and symptoms you're experiencing, your doctor may recommend one (or more) of the following treatments, according to Dr. Aaronson:
Following topical agent use, 65% to 90% of patients typically see improvements in their condition within seven to 10 days, according to German research .
"If the ear canal is very swollen, a wick may be placed in the ear canal to help the drops travel further down past the swollen area," says Dr. Aaronson. "The wick will later be removed or fall out on its own when the swelling of the ear canal goes down."
When to See a Doctor"You should see a doctor if you develop pain and/or drainage from the ear," advises Tiffany Chao, M.D., an assistant professor of otorhinolaryngology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Multiple courses of ear drops won't always cure the infection, she says, adding that you should see an otolaryngologist if the infection persists.
There are several precautionary measures that can reduce the risk of swimmer's ear, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Keeping your ears dry (while swimming or showering) with swim molds or ear plugs—and thoroughly drying your ears with a towel or hair dryer if water seeps in—is a great place to start.
Vitamins By Condition
Considering taking supplements to treat otitis externa?Below is a list of common natural remedies used to treat or reduce the symptoms of otitis externa. Follow the links to read common uses, side effects, dosage details and user reviews for the vitamins and supplements listed below.
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Treatment & Prevention
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Psychotherapy, or "talk" therapy, is an important part of treatment for bipolar disorder.
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