What causes otitis externa? Why does it often happen in the summer? How to treat ear inflammation and what needs to be done to prevent this disease - says the otolaryngologist
The most common problem that people come to see an ENT specialist with in the summer is otitis externa. The most common cause of this problem is swimming in bodies of water. Doctors even gave this misfortune a "talking" nickname: among themselves, the disease is called nothing else than "swimmer's ear." Why do ears get inflamed while swimming? Is it possible to cure the disease on your own? Should I drink antibiotics for otitis externa? And most importantly - how to protect yourself and your child from the "swimmer's ear" in the midst of the swimming season? The otolaryngologist helped us to understand these issues Christina Kharchenko.
Why does otitis externa occur?
Diving enthusiasts are most susceptible to otitis externa / istockphoto.com
Otitis externa is inflammation of the external auditory canal. It is a delicate area of the ear that is shaped like a cylinder lined with leather. Nature has taken care to protect it from external factors.
“We have a tragus and an auricle - they partially close the ear canal so that foreign bodies do not get there. There are hair follicles with hairs - they trap dust, viruses and bacteria. And on the outermost ear canal, this is sulfur, which creates an acidic environment so that pathogenic microbes do not multiply there. Sulfur is hydrophobic - that is, it repels moisture. Due to its sticky structure, it also retains small debris, ”explains Kristina Kharchenko.
What causes this security system to fail? “Most often otitis externa develops in summer,” says Kristina Kharchenko. - Now it's hot outside, everyone is actively swimming in water bodies, diving. The moisture in the ears is constantly present. As a result, there is an increased desquamation of the epithelium (the skin covering the "cylinder"). The ear is clogged, moisture accumulates. Our ear canal is dark and warm: together with moisture stagnation, this is an ideal place for the growth of either fungal or bacterial flora. "
In addition to bathing (and often with it), constant aggressive cleaning of the ears can lead to inflammation. cotton swabs or other available means. This injures the external auditory canal, and all the microflora that is there penetrates through scratches into the deep layers of the skin. Also, inflammation is promoted by any allergic processes and dermatological diseases (for example, psoriasis), and of course, wearing everyone's favorite in-ear headphones.
How does the disease progress
"Swimmer's ear" manifests itself as a sharp, piercing pain / istockphoto.com
The main complaint that leads a patient to see a doctor is a sharp pain in the ear. She can "give" to the lower jaw, or to the temple. The pain may worsen when pressing the tragus, talking, eating, or even yawning. Often a person is worried about hearing loss, sometimes otitis media is accompanied by itching, fever, and enlargement of the parotid lymph nodes. There are also complaints about discharge from the ear - they can be mucous, purulent, with an unpleasant odor.
How is swimmer's ear treated?
A doctor must treat otitis externa / istockphoto.com
At the first symptoms of inflammation, pain can be relieved with paracetamol and ibuprofen (this applies to both children and adults). And then - it is better not to delay the visit to the doctor. He will prescribe antibacterial drops, but before using them, it is imperative to toilet the ear cavity. “From the inflamed ear, it is necessary to remove all dead particles of the epithelium, the products of the inflammatory process (mucus and pus), and sulfur residues. The more thoroughly you clean the ear, the faster the regeneration will take place and the better the medicine will penetrate into the layers of the skin. Therefore, such work should be entrusted to a specialist, ”says Kristina Kharchenko.
Antibacterial drugs for otitis externa are prescribed topically. Sometimes your doctor may prescribe combination drops (with an antimicrobial component and a corticosteroid hormone that will reduce inflammation). But systemic antibiotics in the form of tablets for "swimmer's ear" are prescribed very rarely. As a rule, the doctor resorts to them only when the disease is running, and local treatment does not work.
In the acute period of the course of the disease, it is recommended to avoid getting water in the ears. This does not mean that swimming and washing your hair is completely prohibited. Just try not to dive at this time, and while swimming in the pond, be sure to cover your sore ear with a cotton swab.
Prevention of "swimmer's ear" when swimming
To remove excess water from your ear, blow dry / istockphoto.com
“To prevent the development of otitis externa, you need to carefully dry your ears after every bath, - recommends Kristina Kharchenko. - To do this, after getting out of the water, either shake your head to the side so that the water comes out, or gently blot the ear canal with the tip of a towel. If there is cotton wool at hand, we make a flagellum and collect moisture with it. If you come home and feel that there is still liquid in your ear, you can dry it with a hairdryer at low power, not very hot air, and not close to the ear, but at a distance. "
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Safe rest by the water with a child: advice from Dr. Komarovsky
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