Otitis externa is fairly common, especially among teenagers and young adults. Swimming in polluted water is one way to contract swimmer's ear, but it is also possible to contract swimmer's ear by swimming in a pool that is well maintained or even from water trapped in the ear canal after a shower, especially in a humid climate. Water trapped in the ear canal is not the only cause, however -- the condition can be caused by scratching the ear or an object stuck in it. Trying to clean wax from the ear canal, especially with cotton swabs or small objects, can irritate or damage the skin. It is occasionally associated with middle ear infection (otitis media) or upper respiratory infections such as colds. Middle ear infections can occur after the ear drum is perforated by a fungal growth from the outer ear. Moisture in the ear predisposes the ear to infection from fungus or water-loving bacteria such as Pseudomonas.

Symptoms

Ear pain -- may worsen when pulling the outer ear
Itching of the ear or ear canal
Drainage from the ear -- yellow, yellow-green, pus-like, or foul smelling
Decreased hearing or hearing loss

Signs and tests

When the physician looks in the ear, it appears red and swollen, including the ear canal. The ear canal may appear eczema-like, with scaly shedding of skin. Touching or moving the outer ear increases the pain. It may be difficult for the physician to see the eardrum with an otoscope. Taking some of the ear's drainage and doing a culture on it may identify bacteria or fungus.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection. The ear canal should be cleaned of drainage to allow topical medications to work effectively. Depending on how severe the infection is, it may be necessary for a doctor to aspirate the ear as many times as twice a week for the first two or three weeks of treatment.

Effective medications include eardrops containing antibiotics to fight infection, and corticosteroids to reduce itching and inflammation. Use of antibiotics to treat ear infections may result in treatment of the wrong cause of the infection because not all ear infections are bacterial; some are fungal, and it is possible to have both a bacterial and fungal ear infection.

Ear drops should be used abundantly (four or five drops at a time) in order to penetrate the end of the ear canal. If the ear canal is very swollen, a wick may be applied in the ear to allow the drops to travel to the end of the canal. Occasionally, pills may be used in addition to the topical medications. Analgesics may be used if pain is severe. Putting something warm against the ears may reduce pain.

Read more at Wikipedia.org

• [List your site here Free!]

Treat swimmer's ear with homeopathy - Ask the experts: answers to your questions from the leaders in natural medicine
From Natural Health, 3/1/03

My daughter gets several swimmer's ear infections every year. Can homeopathy help?

JENNIFER JACOBS, M.D., REPLIES: Homeopathy is an excellent treatment for swimmer's ear, a bacterial or fungal infection in the outer ear canal that causes symptoms like pain, inflammation, and crusting in the ear.

Homeopathic remedies are highly diluted plant, mineral, or animal substances that boost your body's healing powers; they can be found in natural food stores and some drugstores. To choose the correct remedy for your daughter, read the following descriptions and pick the one that most closely matches her symptoms. Give her the remedy in the 30C potency twice a day. If you don't notice any improvement in her ear pain or other symptoms within 48 hours, switch to another remedy.

The most commonly used remedy is Hepar sulphuris. It's appropriate if your daughter feels like something sharp is poking or sticking her ear, or if her ear is sensitive to cold but feels better when she holds something warm against it. Other indications include extreme irritability with the pain and a yellowish-green discharge that smells like old cheese.

Try Mercurius vivus if there is yellowish-green discharge, the discomfort is worse at night, her neck glands are swollen, and she alternates between chills and sweating.

Belladonna can be helpful if her pain comes on suddenly and intensely, and her ear is red, hot, and throbbing. She may also have a fever and a flushed face.

Pulsatilla works best if her ear pain is worse at night, she is somewhat weepy and moody, and the pain lessens if she spends time in fresh air.

No matter which remedy you choose, your daughter should stay out of the water until the pain is gone. If her fever lasts longer than 24 hours, or if her symptoms last longer than a week or if they return and don't respond to the same remedy, see a homeopathic physician or a health care practitioner. To find a homeopath in your area, contact the American Institute of Homeopathy (888-445-9988; www.homeopathyusa.org). Encourage your daughter to wear snug-fitting earplugs while swimming to prevent future infections.

Quick Tip

To rid your car of musty odors, put 4 drops of vanilla extract onto a cotton ball and place it under the driver's seat or in the console between the front seats, Replace the cotton ball twice a week to keep your car smelling great.--L. V.

Return to Swimmer's ear

Home

Contact

Resources

Exchange Links

ebay