Swimmer's Ear (Otitis Externa)

The infection which is known as swimmer’s ear usually affects the swimmers. This infection occurs as a result of water being trapped in the ear canal of the swimmers. Swimmer's ear infection can be occurring through bathing or showering but this is a quite uncommon happening. Swimmer’s ear infection occurs only when water gets trapped in your ear canal and due to this the bacteria which are generally living inside the skin and ear canal will start to increase and cause an infection and frustration of the ear canal. If the infection progresses or grows then it can ultimately entail the outer ear.

The fragile skin of ear canal is cosseted by a thin layer of ear wax. Normally small amounts of water can flow without causing any problems in and out of your ear canal. If people swim a lot then the water from the pool or lake starts to wash away the protective layer of ear wax. Bacteria are only start to increase when water stays in the ear canal and washes away the ear wax protection. The ear canal become red and swollen when water enters and stays in the ear canal.

Itching is a common symptom of swimmer’s ear. Always remember that you should not to scuff your ear because this can make the infection worse. Pain in the ear is another common symptom of swimmer’s ear and due to this symptom your ear may become very perceptive. Your ear can hurt under this symptom if the outside of the ear is touched or bumped. Your hearing can also affect by swimmer’s ear because of the distension inside of your ear canal. There are many symptoms of swimmer’s ear such as a feeling that the ear is blocked or full, drainage, fever, intense pain that may spread to your neck, face or side of the head and swollen lymph nodes.

If you thought that you have any symptoms of swimmer's ear then immediately consult to your doctor because swimmer’s ear is treatable. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic eardrops which are used to kill the bacteria or use a wick to treat the swimmer’s ear infection. A wick is look like a small sponge which absorbs the medicine and wick also keeps the medicine in contact with the contaminated ear canal.

If you want to prevent your ears from swimmer’s ear infection then the best way is that use ear plugs. The function of ear plugs is that keeps your ears as dry as possible by wearing them while swimming. Always remember that do not swim if you have already swimmer’s ear infection.