3 Issues Caused By Swimmer’s Ear

The auditory system is a complex network. These different parts allows a person to perceive sound. There are many natural safety measures in place. This is to prevent this system from being in harmful situations. Given the right circumstance, it still prone to damage.

One such condition which is not known by most is acute otitis externa. This is also known as swimmer’s ear. It is a complication that is quite painful. Swimmers are usually the victims of this, thus the name.

Why Swimmers?

You might start asking, but why swimmers? Why are they the targets of acute otitis externa? This is because of the frequent exposure of swimmers in pools. This increases the risk of getting water stuck within the ear canals. The presence of extra moisture in the ear allows for the growth of bacteria.

This condition is not exclusive to swimmers alone though. Keep your ears dry and avoid long stays in high humidity areas.

If the water already has a lot of bacteria, you won’t need a lot of water to develop swimmer’s ear.

The Issues

Some degree of hearing loss will happen with swimmer’s ear. This will usually disappear after treatment. If left untreated for a long time, the infection can become severe. If this happens, it can spread into your inner ear, causing more damage. This can cause permanent hearing loss. The degree of hearing loss will depend on the amount of damage. Don’t worry though as this is rare. As long as you seek treatment immediately you’ll be back to normal.

Prolonged Ear Infection (Chronic Otitis Externa) can also happen. This comes from swimmer’s ear that you ignore. Infection can last for weeks to months. If it lasts for more than three months, curing it will be much harder. This is due to intensified allergic reactions towards antibiotics.

Infection Spreading To Bones And Cartilages (Malignant Otitis Externa) can happen. But these infections are rare. There are situations where the infection finds its way to the cartilages of the ears and the skull. Things could get worse if certain medical conditions are present. This is why you should treat this right away.

Prevention

To keep swimmer’s ear away one must follow certain steps to stay safe.

Wear protection. Because swimmer’s ear exists, you shouldn’t be too scared to swim. It doesn’t mean your days of swimming are over. To continue swimming while still being safe, it’s important to wear earplugs. This will close the openings and stop water from entering.

Avoid submerging your head under water for long periods of time. If you have to, wear the necessary protective gear for your ears.

Do not swim in dirty waters. Do not get into dirty water. These are most likely filled with bacteria. This will increase the chances of infection happening.

Dry your ears. After going for a swim or taking a shower or bath, make sure to dry your ears. You can do so with a blow dryer, or you can tilt your head sideways to let the water flow out.

Your hearing health should have as much priority as the rest of your body. Make sure you get expert opinion when you have a hearing problem. This is so you can access better treatment. Call Ken Clark at Chicago Beltone today at (800) 900-6187 and speak to a professional.