What is Chronic Swimmer’s Ear?
Swimmer’s ear is an infection which is caused by bacteria which grows in the outer ear canal. This typically occurs when the area is too moist or wet for a long period of time and bacterial growth is encouraged. Most cases are considered to be acute which means they do not last for long periods of time. Acute conditions typically respond well to treatment and are over in a very short time. However, chronic swimmer’s ear occurs when the condition does not respond as favorably or as quickly as is desired or if a person has swimmer’s ear multiple times.
What causes chronic swimmer’s ear?
Chronic swimmer’s ear can occur when the earwax which occurs naturally in the ear canal is either removed or reduced. When the ear does not have adequate protection, provided by the ear wax, bacteria can get into the canal and infection can ensue. Other factors which can commonly cause chronic swimmer’s ear include:
· Extreme cleaning of the ear
· Allowing for over exposure of water in the ear canal
· Chemicals like hairspray getting in the ear canal
· Damaging the inside of the ear canal
· Getting something stuck in the ear
· Failing to follow through with acute swimmer’s ear treatment
What are the risk factors associated with chronic swimmer’s ear?
This chronic condition is most likely to be found in children. This is because they have a smaller ear canal and it is a lot easier for water to get trapped. However, there are several other factors that or behaviors that increase the chances of developing chronic ear infections like these. Swimming a lot or swimming in areas that contain water that has been polluted can put you at risk. Wearing headphones, ear buds, or hearing aids can damage the ear. There are also some skin conditions which can have an effect on this thin layer of skin inside the ear like eczema, psoriasis, or seborrhea.
A case of acute swimmer’s ear can become chronic in some instances such as:
· The structure of the inner ear makes it difficult to treat
· Dealing with a rare strain of bacteria
· Having allergic reactions to swimmers ear drops
· And infection which is both fungal and bacterial
What are the symptoms of chronic swimmer’s ear?
Both chronic and acute swimmer’s ear have the same symptoms in the early stages. Itching, pain in and around the ear and hearing that is muffled or blocked. Chronic cases will also exhibit more discomfort in terms of pain and itching; but there may also be the presence of a fever, pus which drains from the ear and swollen lymph nodes in the area close to the effected ear. Even though the symptoms are nearly identical, the condition may be considered to be chronic if the symptoms recur often and in back-to-back episodes or if the symptoms last for over three months.
Complications associated with chronic swimmer’s ear
If chronic swimmer’s ear is left untreated there can be loss of hearing, infection in the skin surrounding the area or cellulitis which is an infection that is deep in the skin tissue.
Serious complications can arise and affect other parts of the body as well. For instance, older adults or those with diseases like diabetes or immune disorders can develop a serious infection affecting the base of the skull. The body can suffer from a widespread infection which can turn into a life threatening condition.
How is chronic swimmer’s ear diagnosed?
Usually a doctor can diagnose a condition of chronic swimmer’s ear during evaluations he is conducting in an office visit. If he determines the condition is chronic the patient will likely be referred to a specialist who can provide more intensive swimmer’s ear treatment options.
How is chronic swimmer’s ear treated?
The health care professional will usually clean the inside of the ear out using specialized equipment and then start with antibiotic ear drops which will help get rid of infection. In some cases, when the ear has too much swelling they may insert a wick so the ear drops can be delivered to the appropriate and most effective area. They may prescribe steroids to decrease the inflammation or antifungal ear drops if the infection is fungal in nature. Some chronic cases are treated with IV antibiotics especially in patients like the elderly that are higher risk. The severity of the chronic condition will determine the need for further therapy. But chronic swimmer’s ear is usually treated successfully.
What causes chronic swimmer’s ear?
Chronic swimmer’s ear can occur when the earwax which occurs naturally in the ear canal is either removed or reduced. When the ear does not have adequate protection, provided by the ear wax, bacteria can get into the canal and infection can ensue. Other factors which can commonly cause chronic swimmer’s ear include:
· Extreme cleaning of the ear
· Allowing for over exposure of water in the ear canal
· Chemicals like hairspray getting in the ear canal
· Damaging the inside of the ear canal
· Getting something stuck in the ear
· Failing to follow through with acute swimmer’s ear treatment
What are the risk factors associated with chronic swimmer’s ear?
This chronic condition is most likely to be found in children. This is because they have a smaller ear canal and it is a lot easier for water to get trapped. However, there are several other factors that or behaviors that increase the chances of developing chronic ear infections like these. Swimming a lot or swimming in areas that contain water that has been polluted can put you at risk. Wearing headphones, ear buds, or hearing aids can damage the ear. There are also some skin conditions which can have an effect on this thin layer of skin inside the ear like eczema, psoriasis, or seborrhea.
A case of acute swimmer’s ear can become chronic in some instances such as:
· The structure of the inner ear makes it difficult to treat
· Dealing with a rare strain of bacteria
· Having allergic reactions to swimmers ear drops
· And infection which is both fungal and bacterial
What are the symptoms of chronic swimmer’s ear?
Both chronic and acute swimmer’s ear have the same symptoms in the early stages. Itching, pain in and around the ear and hearing that is muffled or blocked. Chronic cases will also exhibit more discomfort in terms of pain and itching; but there may also be the presence of a fever, pus which drains from the ear and swollen lymph nodes in the area close to the effected ear. Even though the symptoms are nearly identical, the condition may be considered to be chronic if the symptoms recur often and in back-to-back episodes or if the symptoms last for over three months.
Complications associated with chronic swimmer’s ear
If chronic swimmer’s ear is left untreated there can be loss of hearing, infection in the skin surrounding the area or cellulitis which is an infection that is deep in the skin tissue.
Serious complications can arise and affect other parts of the body as well. For instance, older adults or those with diseases like diabetes or immune disorders can develop a serious infection affecting the base of the skull. The body can suffer from a widespread infection which can turn into a life threatening condition.
How is chronic swimmer’s ear diagnosed?
Usually a doctor can diagnose a condition of chronic swimmer’s ear during evaluations he is conducting in an office visit. If he determines the condition is chronic the patient will likely be referred to a specialist who can provide more intensive swimmer’s ear treatment options.
How is chronic swimmer’s ear treated?
The health care professional will usually clean the inside of the ear out using specialized equipment and then start with antibiotic ear drops which will help get rid of infection. In some cases, when the ear has too much swelling they may insert a wick so the ear drops can be delivered to the appropriate and most effective area. They may prescribe steroids to decrease the inflammation or antifungal ear drops if the infection is fungal in nature. Some chronic cases are treated with IV antibiotics especially in patients like the elderly that are higher risk. The severity of the chronic condition will determine the need for further therapy. But chronic swimmer’s ear is usually treated successfully.