Swimmer's Ear: Symptoms, Prognosis, and Treatment
Swimmers ear: Infection of the skin covering the outer ear canal that leads in to the ear drum, usually due to bacteria such as streptococcus, staphylococcus, or pseudomonas.
Swimmer's Ear Symptoms
• The most common symptom of swimmer's ear is pain. Pain gradually begins over a day or two. The pain almost always involves only one ear. The pain is especially intense when the ear is touched or pulled.
• The ear canal may itch.
• The outer ear may be red, and in severe cases the ear canal may be swollen shut.
• The ear may drain. This drainage may be clear, white, yellow, or sometimes bloody and foul smelling. Some fluid may crust at the opening of the ear canal.
• With severe swelling or drainage, the person may have trouble hearing.
• Ringing in the ear (tinnitus) and dizziness or vertigo may also be present.
• Fever is generally not present. If there is a fever, it is not usually high.
Swimmer's Ear Prognosis
Ear drops are usually placed into the ear canal two to three times a day. It is helpful to have a second person put the ear drops in while the patient lies on their side with the affected ear facing up.
Swimmer's ear clears up within a week for most people. Pain generally goes away within 24 hours if appropriate therapy is used.
Failure to promptly reduce pain and swelling is often caused by excess debris in the canal that needs to be removeModerate progression
• More intense itching. • Increasing pain. • More extensive redness in the ear. • Excessive fluid drain- age. • Discharge of pus. • Feeling of fullness inside the ear and partial blockage of the ear canal by swelling, fluid and debris. • Decreased or muffled hearing.
Advanced progression
• Severe pain that may radiate to the face, neck or side of the head. • Complete blockage of the ear canal. • Redness or swelling of the outer ear. • Swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck.
Fever
Swimmer's Ear Medical
Swimmer's Ear Symptoms
• The most common symptom of swimmer's ear is pain. Pain gradually begins over a day or two. The pain almost always involves only one ear. The pain is especially intense when the ear is touched or pulled.
• The ear canal may itch.
• The outer ear may be red, and in severe cases the ear canal may be swollen shut.
• The ear may drain. This drainage may be clear, white, yellow, or sometimes bloody and foul smelling. Some fluid may crust at the opening of the ear canal.
• With severe swelling or drainage, the person may have trouble hearing.
• Ringing in the ear (tinnitus) and dizziness or vertigo may also be present.
• Fever is generally not present. If there is a fever, it is not usually high.
Swimmer's Ear Prognosis
Ear drops are usually placed into the ear canal two to three times a day. It is helpful to have a second person put the ear drops in while the patient lies on their side with the affected ear facing up.
Swimmer's ear clears up within a week for most people. Pain generally goes away within 24 hours if appropriate therapy is used.
Failure to promptly reduce pain and swelling is often caused by excess debris in the canal that needs to be removeModerate progression
• More intense itching. • Increasing pain. • More extensive redness in the ear. • Excessive fluid drain- age. • Discharge of pus. • Feeling of fullness inside the ear and partial blockage of the ear canal by swelling, fluid and debris. • Decreased or muffled hearing.
Advanced progression
• Severe pain that may radiate to the face, neck or side of the head. • Complete blockage of the ear canal. • Redness or swelling of the outer ear. • Swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck.
Fever
Swimmer's Ear Medical