When we go swimming, water gets into our ears. The excess moisture creates an opportune environment for bacteria growth. Bacteria cause an ear infection known as swimmer's ear. Swimmer's ear is rarely a serious condition but can cause discomfort, redness, swelling and possibly hearing problems.
Definition
Swimmer's ear is an infection of the ear canal caused by the presence of bacteria in the lining of the canal. The condition gets its name because excess moisture in your ear decreases its ability to prevent infection. Therefore, activities such as swimming are the main cause of the infection. Swimmer's ear is rarely serious and can usually be treated easily.
Symptoms
Symptoms of swimmer's ear are usually mild at first. They may include itching, redness and some mild discomfort. However, symptoms can worsen if the ear is not treated properly. If the pain and redness get worse, there's an excess discharge of fluid or pus or you have hearing loss, it may be a sign that the infection is progressing. Eventually, symptoms can escalate to severe pain, swelling and flaky skin around the ear.
Complications
Swimmer's ear is not a serious condition. However, if untreated, complications can arise. These include temporary hearing loss, chronic ear infections, infections that spread deep into your skin and connective tissue, bone and cartilage damage to the ear and skull, and infections that spread to other parts of the body. Consult a doctor as soon as symptoms appear, even if they are mild, to prevent further health problems.
Treatment
The first step in treatment is cleaning the ear of discharge, earwax and other debris. This allows medication to get to the infected parts of the ear. Eardrops are usually prescribed to treat swimmer's ear. These medications have ingredients that reduce inflammation and fight infection. If eardrops don't work, your doctor can prescribe oral antibiotics.
Prevention
The most important preventative step is keeping your ears dry. After exposure to water, use a towel or cloth to gently dry your outer ear. Tip your head to the side to allow excess water to drain out. You can also try using a vinegar and rubbing alcohol solution in the ear after swimming in order to prevent the growth of bacteria. Avoid putting foreign objects into your ear, swimming in polluted water and swimming after ear infection or ear surgery.
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