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Otitis Externa (Swimmer's Ear) - Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Definition

Otitis externa is commonly known as swimmer's ear. Otitis externa is a serious ear inflammation that can usually be treated very successfully with topical antibiotics. Acute external otitis is commonly a bacterial infection caused by streptococcus, staphylococcus, or pseudomonas types of bacteria.

Causes

Several things can make OE more likely including the following :-
If you swim or shower a lot, too much water can get into your ears. Water removes the protective ear wax. Then it's easier for germs and fungus to grow.
Cleaning your ears can remove the protective wax layer and lead to infection.
If you injure the skin in the ear canal by putting your finger or some object in your ear, an infection can develop in the canal.
Skin conditions such as psoriasis that occur in other parts of the body can also occur in the ear canal and cause OE.
The infection is caused by bacteria or fungi.
Water often has bacteria in it.
After swimming, water sometimes stays pooled in the ear.
Bacteria may start to grow and cause an infection.
Bacteria are most likely to be found in rivers, lakes, and ponds.

External otitis is often caused by difficult-to-treat bacteria such as Pseudomonas. The infection spreads from the floor of the ear canal to the adjacent tissues and into the bones at the base of the skull.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of otitis externa are a sore and itchy ear, and slightly dulled hearing. Sometimes the ear may leak fluid (discharge) or there may be a build up of wax. The more you scratch the ear, the worse the swelling and infection gets. Fever is not common in typical cases of otitis externa.

Treatment

Treatment of otitis externa depends on the severity of the infection and how much pain the child feels. For milder cases, your child's doctor may prescribe eardrops that contain antibiotics to fight the infection and a steroid to reduce swelling of the ear canal. Treatment may include :-
Pain medication
keeping the ear dry, as directed by your child's physician
A wick (a piece of sponge may be placed in your child's ear if there is a lot of swelling. This wick helps the antibiotic drops work more effectively in the ear canal.)
Keep the ear dry for 7-10 days.
Take baths instead of showers.
Avoid swimming.
Do not rub or scratch the ear or inside the ear canal.