![]() ![]() An acidic solution to reset the ear's antibacterial environment. ![]() Depending on the type and severity of your infection, eardrops with some combination of the following are often prescribed: If you have severe pain or a fever, contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency care.Īcute outer ear infection treatment generally starts with cleaning debris and discharge from the outer ear canal so that eardrops can reach infected areas. It's important to see your doctor if you have ear pain or discomfort. Treatment is weeks to months of intravenous and then oral antibiotics. ![]() It's more common in older adults, people who have diabetes and those who have weakened immune systems. It may cause increasingly severe and deep-seated pain. The infection spreads into nearby tissues, including cartilage and bone in the skull. Signs and symptoms of an outer ear infection may include itching in the ear canal ear pain or pain when touching or tugging on the outer ear clear fluid or pus leaking from the ear a feeling of fullness in the ear and decreased or muffled hearing.Ī more severe and aggressive infection (necrotizing otitis externa) is a dangerous complication of an outer ear infection. Sensitivity reactions - Reactions to hair products or jewelry can cause allergies or skin conditions that promote infection. Small breaks in the skin may occur with use of earphones or hearing aids. Scratches or irritation - The thin ear canal skin may be damaged by scratching inside your ear with a finger, or by trying to remove wax with a foreign object such as a cotton swab, hairpin or paper clip. External otitis is often called "swimmer's ear." Increased moisture in the ear canal may also be caused by prolonged exposure to humidity. If water remains in your ear after swimming or bathing, the normal earwax and skin barrier can break down. Moisture - A moist environment favors bacterial growth. A viral or fungal infection may be the cause, but most commonly it's a bacterial infection due to: It also collects dead skin cells, dirt and debris and helps move them out of the ear.Įxternal otitis can occur at any age. Glands in the canal secrete earwax (cerumen) that forms a water-repellent film. The canal slopes downward, allowing water to drain out. The outer ear canal has natural defenses that prevent infection. Prompt treatment clears up most outer ear infections. What caused this and is there any way to prevent it from happening in the future?Īn outer ear infection, called external otitis or otitis externa, is most often caused by a bacterial infection that invades the layer of skin lining the ear canal. My doctor said it's an outer ear infection. My ear has been itching for a few days and it hurts to put in my hearing aid. ![]()
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