Infections of the outer ear canal may take one of two forms: a localized infection such as a bail or abscess, or a generalized infection that affects the whole lining of the canal. Ear infections can occur after swimming. Persistent, excessive moisture in the ear canal can make the canal more susceptible to infection. Polluted water from lakes and rivers can cause infection by direct contact. Another cause of both localized and generalized infections is scratching inside the ear to relieve itching or while attempting to remove wax.The first symptom of infection may be itching in your ear, usually followed by pain. Sometimes yellowish-green pus seeps from the ear, and this may relieve the pain. If the pus blocks your outer ear canal, you may lose some hearing. When you have this kind of ear infection, any movement of the head may cause pain in your ear.
Infections of the outer ear are most comÂmon in young adults. If you do not get treatment for such an infection, it may spread and affect underlying cartilage and bone.
What is the Treatment?
Self-help: Take aspirin and place a warm, clean cotton pad or an electric heating pad over your ear to help relieve pain until you see your physician.
Professional help: The physician will probably look into your ear with an otoscope, and may take a sample of any pus. The sample will be sent to a laboratory to see what has caused the infection. Then the doctor will probably clean your ear with a suction device or a cotton-tipped probe. This usually relieves irritation and pain. Your physician may prescribe any number of drugs in the form of pills, capsules, ear drops or cream. A combination of gentle daily cleaning of the ear and the use of the prescribed drugs should clear up the condition.
Usually, if the condition is not improved by this treatment within three to four days, your physician will take further action. Armed with the results of the laboratory tests, the physician may prescribe an antibiotic that is especially effective against the particular organisms, usually bacteria, causing the infection. If the pain is severe, the doctor may also prescribe a painkiller.
You must keep the infected ear dry. This means no swimming, and wearing ear plugs or a shower cap in the bath or shower.
The infection may recur and need treatment for many months if the microbes causing the infection are fungi, or if you develop an allergy to them. If this happens, your physician will probably prescribe a steroid cream or ear drops.