Swimmers Ear
Cases of swimmers ear are always prevalent at this time of year with many of us trying to escape this summer heat by diving into the pool or the ocean. In fact up to 10% of the population will suffer from swimmers ear at some point in their lifetime, with children and teenagers most frequently being affected. Most of the time it is an easy condition to recognise and can be cured with home care and, if necessary, a visit to a health practioner.
Swimmers ear is an inflammation of the outer ear and ear canal. The ear canal is designed to protect the ear from infection and entry of foreign objects due to its length and hair within the canal. The outer ear also produces ear wax to help trap foreign objects and also produces an acidic environment that may be harmful to bacteria entering the ear. Excessive moisture is the ear canal from showering or swimming can alter the acidic environment and allow for bacteria and fungi to take up residence, leading to swimmers ear. Also, the skin lining of the ear canal and outer ear forms a physical barrier against excessive moisture and is slightly acidic. When this lining has a break in it this allows excessive moisture to take place and bacteria or fungi to invade the outer ear. This can lead to inflammation and therefore lead to swimmers ear.
Swimmers ear can be a very painful condition, especially when the ear is touched or pulled. Pain can come on gradually over a couple of days and most commonly will only involve one ear. Other symptoms of swimmers ear may be:
- Itchiness in the ear canal
- Reduced hearing
- Ringing, buzzing or humming in the ear.
There are a couple of things you can do to make yourself more comfortable if you are suffering from swimmers ear. You can place a heat pack to the ear to help ease the pain. Make sure not to leave the heat pack there for long periods of time. Pain killers may also be of help and medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol may be of assistance (always check with your pharmacist if taking for the first time or taking other medications or if the medication is for a child). Do not place foreign objects such as a cotton swab in your ear to scratch an itch or dig out earwax. These items can pack material deeper into your ear canal, irritate the thin skin inside your ear or break the skin
A doctor should be consulted if any of the following symptoms occur as you may require antibiotics:
- Redness of the outer ear and possibly swelling
- Drainage from the ear that can be white, yellow or green
- Dizziness or vertigo
- A high temperature
- Ear pain begins to get worse or persists for more than a few days
- If after a week there is still discomfort in the ear.
- If it is a reoccurring problem.
There are ways that you can help to prevent swimmers ear. You can purchase non-prescription ear drops that help to dry the ear after exposure to water. They usually contain ingredients such as acetic acid and isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol absorbs moisture which helps to relieve the discomfort of water-clogged ears and helps prevent swimmer’s ear, while acetic acid restores an acid pH which makes the skin less susceptible to infection. If you or your child is susceptible to swimmer ear and it keeps reoccurring it is advisable to use a shower cap while bathing and earplugs while swimming to help keep water out of the ear canal. It is also important to dry your ears thoroughly after swimming or showering, which can be done by:
• Using a towel to dry your ears well, wipe outer ear slowly and gently.
• Tilting your head to hold each ear facing down to allow water to escape the ear canal.
• Pull your earlobe in different directions while your ear is faced down to help water drain out.
• If you still have water left in your ears, consider using a hair dryer to move air within the ear canal. Place it on the lowest setting and hold at least 30cm away from the ear.
For more information on swimmers ear please talk to our friendly staff in-store.
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