An ear canal infection, also known as swimmer's ear or otitis externa, is an infection of the outer ear canal. It is caused by bacteria or, less commonly, fungi
. The moist environment from water remaining in your ear after swimming or bathing can lead to this infection in the outer ear canal. Symptoms of ear canal infection include pain, itching, redness, swelling, and discharge of liquid or pus from the ear. The ear canal may have no swelling or slight swelling, or in severe cases, it may be swollen completely closed.Diagnosis
A doctor bases the diagnosis of ear canal infection on the symptoms and an examination of the ear canal. To a doctor looking into the ear canal through an otoscope (a device for viewing the canal and eardrum), the skin of the canal appears red and swollen and may be littered with pus and debris. An infection caused by a fungus is also diagnosed based on examination or culture (a sample of the pus and debris is grown in a laboratory to identify the microorganisms) .Treatment
Debris removal, antibiotic ear drops, keeping water and cotton swabs out of the ear, and pain relievers are the most common forms of treatment for ear canal infection. For most cases of swimmer's ear, a doctor will prescribe eardrops that have some combination of the following ingredients, depending on the type and seriousness of your infection: acidic solution to help restore your ear's normal antibacterial environment, antibiotic to fight the infection, and steroid to reduce inflammation.Prevention
To prevent ear canal infection, avoid putting foreign objects in your ear, such as cotton swabs, and keep your ears dry after swimming or bathing. Wearing earplugs while swimming can also help prevent water from entering the ear canal.In conclusion, if you suspect that you have an ear canal infection, it is important to seek medical attention. Your doctor can diagnose and treat the infection to prevent complications.
