SWIMMER’S EAR

                 SWIMMER’S    EAR

 INTRODUCTION:                    

Otitis externa, commonly known as swimmer’s ear is an infection of the ear canal, the tubular opening that carries sounds from the outside of the body to the eardrum. It can be caused by many different types of bacteria or fungi. 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: 

The most common symptoms of swimmer’s ear are mild to moderate pain that is aggravated by tugging on the auricle and an itchy ear.

Other symptoms may include any of the following:   

Sensation that the ear is blocked or full

Drainage

Fever 

Decreased hearing

Intense pain that may radiate to the neck, face, or side of the head

The outer ear may appear to be pushed forward or away from the skull

Swollen lymph nodes 

CAUSES:

Causes of swimmer’s ear may include:

Persistent moisture in your ear from swimming, bathing or living in a humid environment

Exposure to an infectious organism from swimming in polluted water

Skin breakage caused by scratching or rubbing your ear with a foreign object (such as a cotton swab or pencil), or attempting to clean earwax (cerumen) from your ear canal

Bacteria growth fostered by hair sprays or hair dyes in your ear.Sometimes, in a child with a middle ear infection, pus collected in the middle ear can drain into the ear canal through a hole in the eardrum and cause otitis externa to develop.  

SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS:

To examine the inside of your ear, your doctor may use a lighted instrument (otoscope). The inside of your ear and your ear canal may appear red and swollen. Your ear canal may also appear scaly, with flaking skin. If you have drainage from your ear, your doctor may culture a sample to determine if the cause of the infection is bacteria or fungi.  

TREATMENT:

The goal of treating swimmer’s ear is to clear up the infection. Treatment may include:

Cleaning-Clearing your outer ear and ear canal of any drainage and flaky skin allows topical medications to work more effectively. Your doctor may perform this procedure with a suction device or a cotton-tipped probe. To prevent further irritation or injury, don’t clean inside your own ear unless your doctor instructs you to do so.  

Topical medications-Doctor prescribes eardrops containing antibiotics to fight infection and corticosteroids to reduce itching and inflammation. Use eardrops liberally (four to five drops at a time) to penetrate the end of your ear canal. If your ear canal is swollen, your doctor may insert a special wick into your ear to allow the drops to reach the end of your ear canal.

Oral medications– In some cases, doctors suggest using oral medications in addition to topical treatments. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), may help ease severe ear pain. Ask your doctor which over-the-counter pain medication is best for you. Always take NSAIDS with food. 

Lifestyle modifications-

Don’t swim, fly or scuba dive during treatment for swimmer’s ear. For the most effective treatment results, water should be kept out of the ear.  

PREVENTION:   

Dry the ear thoroughly after exposure to moisture.

Avoid swimming in polluted water.

Use earplugs when swimming. Consider putting a few drops of a 1:1 mixture of alcohol and white vinegar in the ears after they get wet.

The alcohol and acetic acid prevent bacterial growth.Avoid putting foreign objects in your ear.

Never attempt to dig out excess or hardened earwax with items such as a cotton swab, paper clip or hairpin. Avoid substances that may irritate your ear, such as hair sprays and hair dyes or put cotton balls in your ears when applying these products.  

HOME REMEDIES:

The inflammation and pain of otitis externa may be eased with the following home remedies:

The infected ear canal may be washed with an over-the-counter topical antiseptic.

A homemade solution using equal parts white vinegar and isopropyl alcohol may be placed, a few drops at a time, into the ear every two to three hours. The vinegar-alcohol drops should be kept in the ear for at least 30 seconds. A warm heating pad or compress may be placed on the ear to relieve pain. Pain may also be eased by taking aspirin or another analgesic. To assist the healing process, the infected ear canal should be kept dry.

When showering, the patient should use earplugs or a shower cap.

Blowing Smoke in the ear helps sooth it. 

HERBAL REMEDIES: 

A cotton swab dipped in a witch hazel, goldenseal, and calendula tea and applied to the outer ear is useful in treating swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear is associated typically with pus and moisture in the outer ear canal. Witch hazel helps dry up the secretions, while goldenseal and calendula fight infection.

Mullein (Verb scum Thapsus) oil is used to treat minor inflammations. To ease the discomfort of swimmer’s ear, 1-3 drops of a mullein preparation may be placed in the ear every three hours. 

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been shown to be effective in treating swimmer’s ear. As a natural antibiotic, garlic is a useful herb for inflammation of the outer ear. Equal parts of garlic juice and glycerin are added to carrier oil, such as olive or sweet almond. One to three drops of this mixture may be placed in the infected ear every three hours. 

Antiseptic Ear Rub ¼ teaspoon each tea tree essential oils 1 tablespoon olive oil Combine the oils and store the mixture in a clean glass bottle. Lay the child down comfortably on her side and rub the oil around the outside of her ear. Use this treatment a few times daily during an infection.  

Onion Ear Poultice ½ onion, chopped ¼ cup water Heat ingredients in a pan and bring to a simmer, then turn off heat. Wrap simmered onion in several layers of cheesecloth and apply this poultice over the ear, leaving it there for at least 5 minutes. The onion can be reheated and reapplied several times. Do this as many times as needed to ease the pain.

If your child’s ear begins to hurt after he has been swimming or bathing, there may be water trapped in the ear—and this condition can be just as painful as an ear infection. To evaporate the water and ease the inflammation and resulting pain, place a drop or two of an anti-inflammatory tincture, such as Saint-John’s-wort.

 Mix equal parts of rubbing alcohol and distilled white vinegar, and instill one to two drops in each ear after a swim. 

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES:

Specific homeopathic remedies for swimmer’s ear may include Aconite, Apis, Graphites, or Pulsatilla. A homeopathic practitioner should always be consulted for specific treatment recommendations. 

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