Ear Infections In Swimmers

Ear Infections In Swimmers

Swimmer’s ear, ear infection or ear ache are other names for Otitis externa, which is an irritation, inflammation or infection of the ear canal and outer ear.

Causes of ear infections: Ear infections and ear aches are common in young adults and teenagers. While it is more common to get swimmer’s ear by swimming in a polluted swimming pool, you could also easily get it by swimming in a clean pool which is well-maintained. You can irritate or damage the skin of the war if you try to clean wax from the ear canal using cotton swabs or other objects. If the ear drum is perforated by a fungal growth from the outer ear, the middle ear might be infected. If there is moisture in the ear, then it can quickly lead to a bad ear infection from bacteria or fungus which would then lead to a lot of pain.

Symptoms of ear infections: the pain in the ear can be extreme at times and it might hurt even more if the outer ear is pulled. There could also be an itch in the ear canal and outer ear. There could be some fluid draining from the ear which could be yellowish in color, stinky and pus-like. You might experience partial or complete loss of hearing when you have an ear infection.

Treatment of ear infection: in order for topical medication to work properly, the ear canal should be cleaned of any fluid drainage completely. Eardrops which contain antibiotics which will fight infection and corticosteroids which reduce inflammation and itching are the medications which should be used. The usage of antibiotics to treat ear infections might result in treatment of the incorrect cause of the ear infection as not all of them are bacterial – some are fungal, and some might be both bacterial and fungal. You should use ear drops – about four or five drops at a time – so that it penetrates to the end of the ear canal. A wick might be placed in the ear to enable the drops to flow to the end of the canal if the ear canal is very swollen. If the pain is extreme, then you should use an analgesic.

Prevention of ear infection: do not insert cotton swabs or other objects inside your ears or scratch your ears. Wear earplugs when you swim or shower to keep your ears clean and dry. Try to dry your ears completely if the ear canal gets wet and do not swim in dirty water.