Did you know that humans are not the only ones who get swimmers ear and other forms of earache? Yes, animals get it too. You can count on having otitis externa at least a few times in your lifetime.
In swimmers ear, the skin inside the ear canal gets inflamed. This often causes internal swelling that causes reduced hearing, too. There may even be drainage. Sometimes the inflammation is so bad that it spreads to the face and neck. At the very least, you will have pain and itching. Whatever, the worst thing you can do is go on a vicious self-cleaning mission. By using ear buds to scratch the inner ear you are making it worse.
If you have swimmers ear, cut out swimming and exposure to damp conditions (such as steam baths) for a few days. Shampooing is also out for the duration. At the very least, use good earplugs if this is unavoidable. Eat foods rich in Vitamin C because this will help clear the inflammation faster. You can also obtain eardrops containing a mixture of aluminum sulfate and acetic acid and use them.
If your otitis externa does not go away within a week, stop all home treatment and go to a ENT specialist. The problem may require specific medicines like antibiotics to cure. Trying to treat a severe case of swimmers ear at home can make it worse and delay healing.
