Otitis Externa

When does otitis externa occur? And why is it called the swimmer's ear?

 Otitis externa is defined as the occurrence of pain and irritation in the external auditory canal and the visible part of the ear) the outer ear), as a result of an infection, and is called swimmer's disease as a result of swimmers' exposure to many external stimuli suitable for inflammation in their outer ear.

Causes

The auditory canal secretes acidic and moisture-resistant earwax, and these conditions are anti-bacterial and inappropriate for the growth of germs and pathogens, so trying to remove the earwax severely removes this protective barrier, as well as keeping the ear moist for a long time allows pathogens from bacteria and fungi to grow to cause infection. Eczema and psoriasis also play an important role and are predisposing to otitis externa.

Symptoms

Swimmer's ear symptoms are usually mild at first, but may worsen if left untreated or spread.

•Itching in the external auditory canal

• Mild redness inside the duct

• Mild pain that worsens from pulling the pinna by pulling it out and up or when pressing a small bump in front of your ear (tragus)

• Discharge of white or greenish-gray liquid

• Feeling of fullness in the ear

• Temporary hearing loss in the affected ear as a result of blockage with secretions

• If there is redness and swelling in the soft tissue around the pinna or the patient develops fever, this indicates cellulitis around the ear, which will require stronger treatment with medications.

Diagnosis

Otitis externa can usually be detected by examining it by a doctor in the clinic, where the doctor examines your ears with an otoscope and checks the integrity of the tympanic membrane, as he may remove and scrape the secretions gently if he cannot see it, without any additional analyzes unless there is no response to treatment and the development and continuation of the condition, or the doctor can request additional tests such as taking a sample of secretions and sending them to the laboratory to verify the nature of the causative infection. Your doctor also checks the integrity of the tympanic membrane, as the inflammation may cause the tympanic membrane to rupture and your doctor will refer you to a specialist doctor (ear nose laryngeal specialist).

Treatment

First, the hearing canal must be cleaned with a suction device to ensure that the medicine reaches each affected area and obtains high effectiveness from treatment, after the doctor makes sure that there is no perforation in the tympanic membrane so that the secretions are not pushed into the middle ear. The treatment is by applying a topical antibiotic such as gentamicin or tobramycin, and the treatment lasts for seven days and may reach up to fourteen days, twice that period. Pain can also be relieved with mild to moderate pain reliever, such as paracetamol and other NSAIDs, or your doctor may prescribe a stronger analgesic medication if the pain doesn't go away

Age group and gender

Otitis externa affects all ages and both sexes. But children ages 5 to 14 are more likely to have this infection

Duration of illness

Treatment takes 7 to 14 days, if the patient does not improve, we should consider re-diagnosis or look for underlying diseases that weaken immunity such as diabetes or AIDS

Prevalence

Otitis externa occurs everywhere in the world without a specific spread

Heredity

This disease is not related to genetics

Contagious or not and the method of infection?

Infection can be transmitted from person to person when using special tools such as a towel or by inserting contaminated tools such as unclean cotton holders into the ear.

 Complications of the disease

Periauricular cellulitis can occur and the patient develops fever and asthenia.

If a patient with toxicity has a high fever, it may mean a malignant otitis, requiring immediate hospitalization and intravenous administration of antibiotics.

Prevention and lifestyle

• We should know that earwax protects our auditory canal, so it is not necessary to clean our ears with cotton buds or lotions, as this may lead to infection in them.

• But if you suffer from frequent blockages in the endocrine is enough, it is enough to use two drops of mineral oil once a week, as this keeps the ear wax soft and discharge naturally outside your ears.

• If you are a swimmer and have frequent external ear infections

- You can dry your ears after swimming by tilting your ear down and drying them with your own towel,

- After swimming, you can use ear drops with acetic acid mixed with isopropyl alcohol (medical) "available without a prescription or you can make it at home by making a mixture half white vinegar and half medical alcohol", which helps to dry the canal and keep it acidic and thus prevent infection in it.

- Earplugs are effective in preventing recurrent infections

• Don’t use cotton swabs to dry or clean your ears.