Inflammation of the outer ear is a condition in which the ear canal in front of the eardrum becomes infected or inflamed. Inflammation of the outer earneed to be treated correctlyso as not to develop into a more serious condition and doesn't reappear.
Inflammation of the outer ear generally occurs because water enters the ear and is not drained, so the ear canal becomes moist. This condition makes it easier for bacteria or fungi to multiply. One of the activities most at risk of causing inflammation of the outer ear is swimming.
How to Overcome Inflammation of the Outer Ear
Ear pain is the main symptom of inflammation of the outer ear. This ear pain will get worse when chewing and when the outside of the ear is compressed.
To reduce pain due to inflammation of the outer ear, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol.
In addition to relieving symptoms, the cause also needs to be treated. In inflammation of the outer ear due to bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe ear drops that contain antibiotics, or a combination of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory to reduce pain and swelling. Ear drops are usually used several times a day for 7-10 days.
While the inflammation of the outer ear caused by a fungal infection, the doctor will prescribe ear drops containing antifungal drugs. This type of infection is more common in people with diabetes.
Bvarious ways to prevent inflammation of the outer ear
To prevent inflammation of the outer ear from reappearing, there are several ways you can do, namely:
- If you want to swim, use earplugs to prevent water from entering your ears. However, also pay attention to the condition of the water in the swimming pool. If it looks dirty, you should discourage your intention to swim.
- Dry the outside of your ear immediately after swimming, bathing, or shampooing, to prevent ear moisture. You can also dry your ears using hair dryer with a slow wind setting and from a distance of about 30 cm.
- Avoid using foreign objects, such as hair clips, paper clips, or cotton swabs, to remove dirt or scratch the ear. These objects can injure the walls of the ear canal and allow wax to enter deeper into the ear canal.
Inflammation of the external ear should be treated immediately before causing complications in the form of spread of infection to the surrounding tissue. If the pain does not go away even though it has been treated with drugs from the doctor, you should immediately go back to the ENT doctor to get further treatment.