HealthyCanada.com

External otitis, commonly known as swimmer's ear, is an infection of the ear canal, the tubular opening that carries sound waves to your eardrum. You don't have to be a swimmer to get otitis externa.

Bacteria or fungi present in the outer ear canal, via water or other pathways, can cause the infection. Spending time in any body of water including a lake, ocean or even the shower can cause excessive moisture in your ears, which could lead to an infection. Some people have an abnormally small canal which pre-disposes them to problems.

Symptoms

You may have had other ear infections in the past. Swimmer's ear won't feel anything at all like those. If you have swimmer's ear, your outer ear will hurt to the touch. You may find it difficult to lay your head on a pillow. Quite often people who develop swimmer's ear will complain of an itching sensation before the pain sets in. In addition to the itching, you may notice a greenish-yellow discharge from the opening of your ear and may have some difficulty hearing. You could have a fever too. The symptoms usually start to show up within several hours or a day after you've been in the water.

If you think you have swimmer's ear, see your doctor. If your infection isn't serious he or she will likely prescribe eardrops containing antibiotics or corticosteroids or both. The antibiotics treat the infection, whereas the steroid reduces the swelling. Make sure you follow the prescription and take all of the medication, which usually covers a 7-10 day period. If your swimmer's ear is more serious, the doctor may have to clean your ear and insert a cotton wick into your ear canal to provide a wider opening for the eardrops to go through. You also may have to take oral antibiotics in addition to the eardrops.

If you currently have swimmer's ear here are some tips that can help make you feel better until you can see your doctor:

• Put a warm cloth or hot water bottle against your ear to help relieve the pain.
• Use over-the-counter pain relievers. (Never give children or teenagers aspirin or ASA to bring down a fever.) If that doesn't work, tell your doctor so he or she can prescribe stronger medication.
• Avoid re-contaminating your ear by keeping your head out of water (even while showering or shampooing) for several days or weeks. Use cotton swabs or earplugs coated with petroleum jelly and remove them after bathing or washing your hair.

The best way to help reduce your risk of developing swimmer's ear is to carefully dry the inside of your ears after swimming, bathing or showering. A "Q-tip" is not necessary. In fact the natural oil in the ear is protective. Sometimes tilting your head completely to one side to let accumulated water drain out can be helpful. Be sure to ask your doctor if these are right for you because people who have damaged eardrums shouldn't use them. Staying out of polluted water will greatly reduce your risk as well.