If you’re familiar with the anatomy of the ear, you know there are three general sections. The inner ear is where sound converts from mechanical energy to nerve signals, while the middle ear converts acoustic energy from the eardrum into that mechanical energy. Your outer ear channels acoustic sounds through the ear canal to the eardrum.
Swimmer’s ear is an infection that settles in the ear canal, more common in the summer due to the moist environment the ear presents for bacteria. Sometimes the infection can be serious enough to require medical treatment.
As ear infection specialists, our team at Austin ENT Associates in Round Rock, Texas, is ready to help you when swimmer’s ear affects you or someone in your family.
To help you avoid needless aggravation and discomfort, we’ve prepared this guide for you to help prevent swimmer’s ear (which isn’t always about swimming) and how to recognize and treat the symptoms if it does occur.
Medically referred to as otitis externa, swimmer’s ear often results from frequently moist conditions within the ear canal. Obviously, there’s a greater risk if you swim often, but water in your ear isn’t the only cause of the condition.
Other factors that can contribute to swimmer’s ear include:
Bacteria that cause the infection can be water-borne, a reason why the condition is associated with swimming. Bacteria are the primary cause, but swimmer’s ear may also be the result of a fungal infection.
The symptoms of swimmer’s ear can range from mild to severe. Signs include:
Because bacterial infections are involved, symptoms of swimmer’s ear can go from mild to severe quickly without treatment.
Unfortunately, preventing swimmer’s ear may mean not swimming to your heart’s content. Taking a break to let your ears dry out can be helpful for prevention. Other safeguard strategies include:
If you notice mild signs of infection, keeping your ears dry may be all you need to break the infection cycle. It’s best to avoid swimming until your symptoms clear.
Common medical treatments include:
The sooner you start treatment after the first signs, the better your prognosis may be. Bacterial infections require antibiotics once they’re fully established, and you must finish the course of prescribed medication to assure the infection is halted.
Contact us at Austin ENT Associates at the first sign of swimmer’s ear. Call or click to request an appointment as soon as you recognize the signs.
