Picture this: You are out, enjoying the pool, lake, or ocean, living your best life; then you go home and a few days later, you find yourself running a fever and dealing with excruciating ear pain. Before you know it, you are scouring for answers and taking a rain check on invitations for another getaway. Just like that, swimmer’s ear puts a damper on your summer plans.
Luckily, there are ear infection treatments you can easily find that can effectively soothe your symptoms and banish swimmer’s ear altogether. In the sections ahead, you will learn what swimmer’s ear is, the treatments available for it, and what to do when self-care and basic remedies are not enough.
What is Swimmer’s Ear?
Swimmer’s ear, clinically known as otitis externa, is a condition where the ear canal, which is the slender tube linking your outer ear to your eardrum, becomes irritated, inflamed, or infected. It occurs when there is water sitting in your ear canal. The moisture makes it a perfect breeding ground for germs (bacteria and, occasionally, fungi).
Despite its name, swimmer’s ear can affect anyone, whether a swimmer or not. Anything that makes your ears extra moist, like sweat and showers, as well as cleaning your ears with cotton swabs, can make you susceptible to swimmer’s ear. When you stick objects into your ear, you run the risk of scratching your ear canal and creating an entry point for germs. That is why doctors often say, “Nothing smaller than your elbow should go in your ear.”
Basic Remedies for Swimmer’s Ear
If your ear feels itchy or irritated but not yet painful, over-the-counter (OTC) drops may help. Look for those that contain acetic acid or alcohol. They help dry out your ear and restore the pH level in your ear canal, so germs cannot thrive. If you are unsure whether it is safe to use ear drops, particularly if you have had ear problems in the past, it is best to check with your healthcare provider first.
Non-prescription pain medications, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, can help reduce discomfort and inflammation. Applying a warm compress to your affected ear can also offer temporary relief.
Protect your affected ear while it heals by keeping it dry all the time. After you shower, gently pat the area with a clean towel, and use a blow dryer set to low and held at a safe distance to remove any lingering moisture.
What to Do When Swimmer’s Ear Gets Worse
Swimmer’s ear often clears up within a week or so with self-care and home remedies. However, there are cases when it escalates into a full-blown infection requiring professional treatment. If your symptoms worsen or persist beyond a week, or if there are signs of infection (e.g., fever, pus, and swelling in the area), seek professional ear infection treatment right away.
This is crucial for preventing potentially serious—and even life-threatening—complications, such as cellulitis (deep-tissue infection) and advanced skull base osteomyelitis (infection affecting the bones at the base of the skull).
How an ENT Specialist Can Help
Although your primary care provider can treat swimmer’s ear, an otolaryngologist, commonly known as an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor, is your best resource, especially if yours requires specialized care. An ENT doctor has the expertise and advanced tools to pinpoint the underlying cause, detect signs of complications, and effectively remove blockages.
Your ENT doctor will thoroughly examine your ears using an otoscope and perform professional cleaning to remove clumps of earwax, pus, and other debris using an ear curet or a suction device. This clears the way for medications to work more effectively.
For moderate to severe infections, prescription ear drops are typically the most effective ear infection treatment. These drops usually contain a combination of a steroid (to reduce inflammation) and an antibiotic (to kill bacteria).
If the infection turns out to be fungal (which happens occasionally), your ENT doctor may prescribe antifungal drops like clotrimazole or acetic acid with hydrocortisone. If the infection has spread beyond your ear canal, your ENT doctor may give you stronger oral antibiotics to fight it off.
If there is severe swelling in your ear canal that makes it difficult for ear drops to penetrate, your ENT doctor may insert a wick, which is a soft, absorbent strip, to deliver the medication into the area. This allows the ear drops to seep in properly and speed up healing.
The Best Ear Infection Treatment in Georgetown, TX
For the best swimmer’s ear infection treatment in Georgetown, Texas, come see Dr. Scott Franklin here at Georgetown ENT. As a board-certified and fellowship-trained otolaryngologist with over two decades of experience, Dr. Franklin is highly equipped to treat the gamut of conditions affecting the ears, nose, and throat—from minor to complex. You can trust him to provide the most effective solution and deliver the best possible outcome, no matter the severity or complexity of your condition.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Franklin, contact us at (512) 869-0604. You may also fill out our appointment request form.
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