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What is Swimmer’s Ear: Symptoms, Causes and Home Treatment

By on September 22, 2016

What is Swimmer’s Ear

Have you heard of the disease called as swimmer’s ear? It is also known as otitis media. It may also be defined as an infection of the outer ear. This condition is usually caused due to swimming pool water that enters and gets clogged into the outer ear canal. This results in an environment and promotes the growth of infection-causing bacteria.

These bacteria invade the skin of the ear canal. If in case you put your finger or even an ear bud in your ear you may cause further damage to the skin of the ear canal. Even the use of earphone may also aggravate your condition.

 

Swimmer’s Ear

Swimmer’s Ear

This outer ear infection may cause swelling, inflammation and may prove to be a very painful condition making it difficult for you to sleep at night. Thus a proper treatment is very important to provide quick relief to your condition.

This condition is commonly in swimmers as their external ear is more exposed to water. However, this condition may also occur in other people.

What are the Symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear

The symptoms of swimmer’s ear may be mild initially, but if not treated in time it spreads and may get worse.
In its mild form it usually causes itching, and redness of the outer ear. There may be mild discomfort which gets worse on pulling the ear.
There may be a clear fluid oozing out of the ear, which is usually odorless.

As the disease progress, the itching and redness increase along with pain. There is now discharging of pus from the outer ear. Also, there may be a sensation as if the ear is blocked along with the feeling of fullness. To some extent, the hearing may also decrease.

 

Symptoms of Swimmer's Ear

Symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear

When the disease reaches its advanced stage. There is severe pain radiating to neck, face, and temples. There is visible extensive swelling and redness of the outer ear. The ear canal is now completely blocked. Swelling of lymph nodes and fever may also occur.

What are the Cause of Swimmer’s Ear

The main cause of swimmer’s ear is the infection causing bacteria that are present in the water and soil. Fungus and virus rarely cause swimmer’s ear.
Some of the common causes of swimmer’s ear are excessive moisture in the ear due to perspiration, humid weather and clogged water in the ear that follows swimming and bathing.

Cause of Swimmer's Ear

Cause of Swimmer’s Ear

Other causes are abrasion and scratches damaging the skin of the ear canal. In some cases, hair and other cosmetic products and jewelry may also cause skin allergy and infection. Children with narrow ear canal are also at the risk of developing swimmer’s ear.

What is the Treatment of Swimmer’s Ear

It is very important to treat swimmer’s ear as soon as possible because long-term infection may cause hearing loss, cellulites and damage to ear bone and cartilage. Your doctors may prescribe you certain medicines and ear drops, but below in this article, we will introduce you to certain home remedies to get rid of swimmer”s ear.

Treatment of Swimmer’s Ear

Treatment of Swimmer’s Ear

What are the Home Remedies to Treat Swimmer’s Ear

1.Alcohol and White vinegar- Use a mixture of white vinegar and alcohol to get rid of swimmer’s ear. You may use it for your children. It is also recommended for the swimmers. To use it you need to mix one-fourth cup of both white vinegar and alcohol each. With the help of dropper pour this solution in both the ears daily after swimming. You may also use it after you get an infection when the infection is in its mild form.

Alcohol and White vinegar

Alcohol and White vinegar

2.Garlic- Crush few garlic pods. Take a cotton gauge and place the crushed garlic clove in it. Now place on the affected ear. Do not thrust it inside. Secure it with the help of a medical tape and leave it overnight and in the morning remove it. Repeat this for a few days.

Garlic

Garlic

3.Hot compress- Soak a clean cotton cloth with hot water. Strain it and place it over the affected ear for one or 2 minutes. Repeat this for a few minutes, and then tilt the head to face the affected ear towards the ground. This will drain the clogged water.

Hot compress

Hot compress

4.Onion- Crush and extract the juice of an onion. Now warm it and with the help of a dropper, put 2 drops of the warm onion juice in your ear. After 5 minutes, tilt the head to face the affected head towards the ground to drain the fluid out of your ear. Repeat this every day.

Onion

Onion

5.Basil leaves- Crush a few basil leaves and extracts its juice. Warm the juice a little and then pour it with the help of a dropper in the infected ears. After 5 minutes, tilt the head to drain the fluid out of your affected ear. Repeat this every day 2 times.

Basil leaves

Basil leaves

Besides the above remedies try to keep your ear dry by tilting the head to face the affected ear towards the ground so that water may drain out after bathing or swimming. You may also use a towel. Use of ear plug while swimming to prevent water entering into the ear is also found helpful.

Dr. Ritu Kumari Gupta
Dr. Ritu Kumari Gupta:  Professionally a homeopathic doctor and a dietician Dr. Ritu Kumari Gupta is passionate about writing health and parenting blogs. She believes in holistic approach towards health and well being.
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