External ear infections, also known as swimmer’s ear, are caused by bacteria and can cause symptoms such as swelling, redness, and fluid discharge. Keeping ears dry and avoiding inserting objects can prevent infection. Treatment includes prescribed ear drops and oral antibiotics if severe. Prevention is key, and experts recommend limiting water sports and avoiding inserting objects into the ear.
An external ear infection, sometimes called swimmer’s ear, is a problem involving inflammation and itching of the skin of the external ear canal. Bacteria cause most cases of external ear infection. Swimmer’s ear symptoms range from mild to severe, but common ones include swelling, redness, and fluid discharge. Cleaning and using prescribed ear drops usually help eliminate ear infection symptoms. Tips like keeping your ears dry and avoiding inserting objects into your ear help protect yourself from an ear infection.
Medically called otitis externa by doctors, the external or external ear canal is the tube that connects the visible part of the ear to the eardrum. When water, bacteria, or other elements get on the skin lining the outer ear, the risk of an outer ear infection increases. The ear canals have the ability to clean the ears and prevent infections through the buildup of earwax, but sometimes the ears can become overwhelmed with an overproduction of earwax or moisture from sweating and swimming. The extra moisture gives bacteria easy access to the outer ear because it’s already a dark, warm environment. Other causes of ear infections include skin allergies such as eczema, injury to the outer ear, and exposure to hair products or anything that traps moisture in the outer ear.
Signs of an external ear infection usually start out as mild, but can progress if the person ignores the problem and doesn’t get treatment. Early symptoms of an infection include itching along the outside of the skin outside the ear canal, followed by redness from irritation. Trapped water or moisture can also leak out of the ear. If the early symptoms are left untreated, further discomfort follows, accompanied by hearing difficulties, fullness, and a disgusting pus-like discharge from the ear. See a doctor right away for severe ear infection symptoms such as fever, pain, swelling, and peeling of the outer skin of the ear.
In treating this condition, a doctor usually examines the infected ear to remove any discharge and then prescribes antibiotic ear drops. Oral antibiotics may also be prescribed to treat symptoms of severe external ear infection along with ibuprofen for pain relief. In general, an ear infection should go away in no more than 10 days after proper treatment.
Preventive measures help avoid an outer ear infection. Medical experts recommend keeping your ears dry as much as possible, especially after bathing or swimming. Limiting swimming or other water sports also helps prevent infection. A person should never put a cotton ball or other object into the ear because it could cause injury leading to infection. Cotton balls placed gently in your ears can offer a solution to protect your ears from water, hairspray, or other substances that can cause irritation or infection.
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