When to seek medical attention
If you develop any signs or symptoms of swimmer’s ear disease, even if they are very mild, it is best to see your doctor.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience.
1. severe pain.
2. fever.
Swimmer’s ear disease is usually caused by bacterial infections in the water and soil. Fungal and viral infections are less common.
Natural defenses of the ear
The external ear canal possesses natural defenses that help clean the ear canal and prevent infection. The protective functions are reflected in.
1. Ear canal glands secrete a wax-like substance called cerumen (earwax)
Cerumen can form a thin, oily, waterproof film that covers the skin surface of the ear canal. Cerumen is also a weak acid, and this substance can help further inhibit the growth of bacteria. In addition, cerumen collects dust, dander, and other dirt that enters the ear and transports it outside the ear canal. These waxy clumps are the earwax you often find at the opening of the ear canal.
2. The ear canal slopes downward slightly
The ear canal slopes slightly downward from the middle ear to the outer ear, which helps to get the water out.
How the infection occurs
If you have swimmer’s ear disease, then the natural defenses can be overwhelmed. The following conditions can weaken the ear’s defenses and promote bacterial growth.
1. Excessive moisture in the ear canal. Heavy sweating, prolonged wet weather, or water pooling in the ear after swimming can create a good environment for bacterial growth.
2. Scratches or abrasions to the ear canal. Using cotton swabs or bobby pins to clean the ear canal, scraping the skin inside the ear with your fingers, or wearing headphones or hearing aids that cause small breaks in the skin can all cause bacterial growth.
3. Allergic reaction. Hair care and beauty products or jewelry can cause allergies and certain skin diseases that promote infection.
Factors that increase the risk of developing swimmer’s ear disease include.
1. Swimming.
2. swimming in water with more bacteria, such as lakes, instead of going to a pool with good sanitation.
3. narrow ear canals, such as those of children, which are more likely to cause water to accumulate in the ear.
4. excessive cleaning of the ear canal with cotton swabs or other objects
5. wearing certain devices, such as headphones or hearing aids
6. skin allergies or irritations, such as allergies to jewelry, hairspray, or hair dyes.
If treated promptly, swimmer’s ear disease is usually not serious, but may cause complications.
1. Temporary hearing loss
You may not be able to hear clearly for a while, but symptoms usually get better after the infection is eliminated.
2. Long-term infection (chronic otitis externa)
An outer ear infection may be considered chronic if the signs and symptoms persist for more than three months. Swimmer’s ear can be tricky to treat in the following cases and therefore tends to progress to chronic otitis externa: rare bacterial strains, skin allergies, allergies to antibiotic ear drops or simultaneous bacterial and fungal infections.
3. Deep tissue infection (cellulitis)
In rare cases, swimmer’s ear disease may cause the infection to spread to deeper skin and connective tissue.
4. Bone and cartilage damage (necrotizing otitis externa)
The spread of infection in the external ear canal may lead to inflammation or damage to the skin and cartilage, even involving the bones beneath the skull, causing severe pain. This risk is higher in the elderly, diabetic or immunocompromised populations. Necrotizing otitis externa is also known as malignant otitis externa, but it is not cancer.
5. More widespread infection
If swimmer’s ear disease develops into necrotizing otitis externa, the infection may spread and affect other parts of the body, such as the brain or nearby nerves, and this rare complication can be life-threatening.