CHECK-UP:Swimming can, on occasion, cause water to become trapped in the ear - otitis externa
LATELY MY son has been complaining that the inside of one of his ears is painful, tender and at times itchy. He has been using the local swimming pool a couple of times a week since the start of the summer holidays, and I'm wondering if there is a connection.
The outer ear canal is a tunnel that runs from the external part of the ear to the eardrum. Lined with skin, it contains small hairs and wax-producing glands.
Infection of this lining can cause swelling and redness, and is known as otitis externa.
Symptoms include tenderness, pain and itchiness, which are usually confined to the ear canal, but can also affect the external part of the ear and the surrounding skin.
Discharge from the ear, or a reduction in the quality of hearing in the affected ear may also be noticed. Otitis externa can be caused by water getting trapped within the ear canal - "swimmer's ear" is a common condition among those who swim regularly.
Trapped water can cause the lining of the ear to become soggy and prone to infection. Swimmers who use chlorinated pools tend to experience the condition more so than those who swim in salt sea water.
However, the condition is not confined to those who swim but can occur for a number of other reasons, including having a narrow or long ear canal or suffering from a skin condition such as dermatitis or eczema.
How can it be treated?
Your son's ears need to be examined by your GP and may also need to be cleaned out using suction or a very narrow probe.
An anti-bacterial or anti-fungal cream is usually prescribed to be used in the ear canal for a number of days until the infection has cleared. Once the acute problem has resolved, there are a number of steps your son can take to help prevent further outbreaks. He should avoid getting water in his ears by wearing moulded earplugs and a swimming cap while swimming, and earplugs when washing his hair. The ears are self cleaning so it is inadvisable to poke around in there with cotton buds or other unsuitable implements.
Discourage him from doing so, as he runs the risk of damaging the lining of the canal and reintroducing infection.