Have you ever gone swimming, perhaps in a swimming pool or in the sea, and after coming home, you felt a slight itch or pain in your ear? After a while, did it gradually increase and become so painful that you could not even touch your ear? Then you may have a condition called "Swimmer's Ear". Don't just wait for it to get better. It needs to be treated properly. Let's see what can be done about it.
What happens when you go to the doctor?
When you go to see a doctor, the first thing he or she will do is examine your ear thoroughly. To treat Swimmer's Ear effectively, the ear canal must first be cleaned of any debris .
Imagine that your ear canal is filled with dirt, dead skin cells, and excess wax that have accumulated along with water. These are like a blocked road. Even if the doctor puts medicine in, the medicine doesn't reach the infection because of these blockages.
Therefore, the doctor removes these very carefully. He can:
- Use a liquid like hydrogen peroxide.
- Use a special suction device (like a vacuum cleaner) to pull out the contents.
- Scrape out the contents inside with a small, special instrument called an Ear Curette.
Don't be afraid at all when doing this. The doctors are very experienced in this.
Next, the doctor will check to see if your eardrum is healthy . If your eardrum is perforated in any way, regular swimmer's ear treatments will not work. In that case, you may be referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT specialist).
Eardrops are the main medicine!
Often, your doctor will prescribe eardrops for you to use at home. This is the most common and effective treatment for this condition. These eardrops work directly to fight the infection inside the ear and help the ear heal.
Depending on your condition, these eardrops may contain different things.
| What may be contained in the eardrop | The work that it does |
|---|---|
| Antibiotics | Destroys the bacteria that caused the infection. |
| Steroids | Reduces swelling and itching inside the ear. |
| Antifungal medicines | If your infection is caused by a fungus, they will destroy it. |
| Chemicals that restore the ear canal | The healthy pH balance of the ear canal is restored, making it difficult for germs to grow again. |
How do you put eardrops in your ears correctly?
It is very important to follow the instructions on the medicine bottle. This is usually done as follows:
- When putting drops in your ear, tilt your head to one side, or lie down on your side.
- After applying the medicine , wait for about 3 to 5 minutes . This will allow the medicine to be absorbed well into the ear.
- Then take a piece of cotton wool and place it near the ear canal. Leave it for about 20 minutes and then remove it. This will stop the medicine from leaking out.
- Do this three to four times a day, or as directed by your doctor.
If you have difficulty putting in eardrops on your own, it's easier to ask someone at home to do it for you. Then you can put it right into your ear. If the medicine bottle is cold and hurts, warm it up between your hands for a while before using it.
Things to pay attention to at home during treatment
Once you start treatment, it will take about a week for your symptoms to completely disappear. In the meantime, you can do these things to help you feel better and make your treatment more successful.
| What to do | Description and importance |
|---|---|
| Take painkillers. | If the pain is unbearable, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever like Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, or Naproxen. But if those aren't enough, ask your doctor for a stronger painkiller. |
| Use eardrops at the right time. | Eardrops are usually prescribed for 7-14 days. Even if you feel better after two or three days, never stop taking the medication prematurely . Doing so may cause the infection to return. |
| Keep your ears dry. | When bathing, apply a little petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) to cotton balls and keep them out of the ear canal to prevent them from getting inside. Do not bathe or swim again until your doctor says it's OK (usually 7-10 days). |
| Don't put anything in your ear. | Do not use headphones or hearing aids until you recover. |
If you don't feel any better after 36-48 hours, be sure to talk to your doctor again. You may need to switch to a different treatment.
What if the situation is a little serious?
Many people can manage this condition with eardrops alone, but if the infection is more severe or has spread, other treatments may be needed.
- Ear Wicks: If your ear canal is very swollen, there is no way for the eardrops to get inside. In such cases, the doctor will insert a small cotton ball (wick) into your ear. This will allow the drops to travel down the cotton ball and reach the infection. The doctor may need to change this every few days.
- Oral or IV antibiotics: If the infection is difficult to treat, severe, or has spread to nearby tissue, cartilage, or bone, you may need to be given oral or intravenous (IV) antibiotics. This type of severe infection is called malignant (necrotizing) external otitis . This is especially common in older people with diabetes and people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV.
What to do next?
You should start to feel better within a few days of starting treatment. However, if symptoms persist after 10 days or worsen, be sure to talk to your doctor.
Once you are fully recovered, do these things to prevent this condition from recurring.
- Use earplugs when swimming.
- If water gets in your ear, dry it thoroughly.
- Avoid picking or picking with your fingers or cotton buds, as this can damage the skin and lead to infection.
Finally, there is a story our mothers tell us, remember it well.
Never put anything smaller than your elbow inside your ear!
Take-Home Message
- Even though swimmer's ear is common, you should definitely see a doctor without waiting.
- For treatment to be successful, it is very important to first have the doctor clean the inside of the ear.
- Use the eardrops exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop halfway.
- It is essential to keep the ear dry and not allow water to enter during treatment.
- If you do not feel better in two or three days or if the condition worsens, seek medical advice again.
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