Prevent Ear Infections this Summer

Summertime, sunshine and swimming pools – we all like this time of the year.
This is also the time of the year when the number of external ear infections increases.
Otitis externa is a common disease during summer in children after swimming.

Inflammation of the external ear is often caused by bacteria. The infection is located in the external ear and does not go further than the ear drum.
The external ear canal is a narrow, warm bind-ending tunnel. It is a good, protected environment for germs to grow if they have a chance. Occasionally, it can also be caused by fungus or yeast.

What can be the cause ofan external ear infection?
1.Getting regular water in the ear produces a warm, humid condition in your ear canal, whichprovides an excellent environmentto let germs and fungus grow.
2.The ear feels itchy and you may scratch your ear to get some relief. The micro-damage in the skin can cause infection. The inflammation causesitchiness, you scratch more, and the infection getsworse.
3.Applying shampoo, hairspray or other substances in the external ear canal can have the same effect.
4.Going swimming in the pool, where the water might not be as clean as you wish.
5.Warm and humid weather
6.Skin problems like eczema or psoriasis
7.Excessive ear waxcan be found in the external ear canal. Water can be trapped behind the ear wax and bacteria can grow, which enablesan external ear infection to easilyhappen.
8.Syringing ear wax or trying to remove ear wax with small objects

Signs of an ear infection
-Pain
-Swollen outer ear canal
-Leaking fluid from external ear canal
-Ear canal is itchy and you see a rash or a crust
-Hearing loss because your ear canal is blocked

How can an external ear infection be treated?
After an examination, of the ear canal with a microscope, we will clean your ear carefully. Locally applied antibacterial ear drops are used for several days to cure the infection.Sometimes antifungal treatment or steroid ear drops are necessary for the treatment.

How to apply ear drops in the right way?
-Lay down with the infected ear facing upwards
-Apply the prescribed amount of drops in the external ear canal; if possible get some help
-Lay in this position for several minutes
-Pull you ear gently up and down to allow the ear drops to go deep enough in the external ear
canal
-Don’t use any cotton to close the external ear canal after using the drops

-An ear wick that is soaked with medication is sometimes placed in the outer ear canal. This is often used when the ear canal is severely swollen. It ensures that the medication does not only reach the beginning of the swollen ear canal. It is necessary to treat also the deeper part of the ear canal. Due to the swollen skin in the ear canal, it is difficult to apply ear drops deep enough. The wick will be changed every 2-3 days until the infection is resolved.

-Oral antibiotics are sometimes used if the infection is very severe. They are given in addition to ear drops. It is important to finish the whole course.

-Pain killers to reduce the pain

Returning Patient
Patients often ask if there is a way to prevent an ear infection from coming back.
– Don’t use cotton buds or other objects to clean the ears
-You could cause some micro wounds to the skin, then it is easy for bacteria to cause an infection
-You could push the ear wax further into the external ear canal

-Keep your ears dry
-Use a towel to dry the outer ear
-Use a warm hair dryer to dry the external ear
-Keep water out of your external ear canal, and wear ear plugs out of rubber material or a tight cap when going swimming

-Don’t get shampoo or other products in your external ear canal

-Get regular professional ear cleaning at your ENT doctor