Otitis externa (also called swimmer's ear or ear ache) is an Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. Inflammation is characterized by the following quintet: redness (rubor), heat (calor), swelling (tumor), pain (dolor) and dysfunction of the organs involved (functio laesa). The first four characteristics have... inflammation, Irritation is an observable physiological reaction to a stimulus that the organism instinctually avoids. It can apply even to a simple organism. The stimulus reduces order in at least part of it, e.g. by puncturing its skin, causing bleeding, etc., In humans, it is a mild form of suffering... irritation, or Infection is also the title of an episode of the television series Babylon 5; see Infection (Babylon 5). An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. The colonizing organism interferes with the normal functioning and perhaps the survival of the host. The infecting organism... infection of the outer For an alternative meaning, see ear (botany). A right human ear. An ear is an organ used by an animal to detect sound. The term may refer to the entire system responsible for collection and early processing of sound (the beginning of the auditory system), or merely the externally-visible... ear and ear canal.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Otitis externa is fairly common, especially among teenagers and young adults. Swimming is the method by which humans (or other animals) move themselves through water. Swimming is a popular recreational activity, particularly in hot countries and in areas with natural watercourses. Swimming is also a competitive sport. There are many health benefits of swimming, yet basic swimming skills and safety precautions... Swimming in polluted water is one way to contract swimmer's ear, but it is also possible to contract swimmer's ear by swimming in a pool that is well maintained. Swimming is not the only cause, however -- the condition can be caused by scratching the ear or an object stuck in it. Trying to clean wax from the ear canal, especially with cotton swabs or small objects, can irritate or damage the This article is about skin in the biological sense. For other uses of skin see skin (computing) and skinhead. Regarding exposure of the skin to be seen by others, or prevention of this, see nudity, nudism, modesty, clothing. Fruits such as oranges also have a skin or peel, which is... skin. It is occasionally associated with middle ear infection (otitis media) or upper respiratory infections such as Cold can have the following meanings: Low temperatures, and/or the absence of heat Common cold, an infectious disease of the nose and throat Cold (band), a hard rock band Abbreviation for Computer Output to Laser Disk, see Enterprise Report Management (ERM) A James Bond novel, COLD by John Gardner... colds. Middle ear infections can occur after the ear drum is perforated by a fungal growth from the outer ear. Moisture in the ear predisposes the ear to infection from Divisions Chytridiomycota Zygomycota Ascomycota Basidiomycota The Fungi (singular: fungus) are a large group of organisms ranked as a kingdom within the Domain Eukaryota. Fungi occur in all environments on the planet and include important decomposers and parasites. Parasitic fungi infect animals, including humans, other mammals, birds, and insects, with consequences... fungus or water-loving Phyla/Divisions Actinobacteria Aquificae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chlamydiae/Verrucomicrobia Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Nitrospirae Omnibacteria Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Bacteria is also the fictional name of a warring nation under Benzino Napaloni as dictator, in the 1940 film The Great Dictator... bacteria such as Species P. aeruginosa P. fluorescens P. fragi P. putida P. syringae etc. The bacterial genus Pseudomonas includes plant pathogenic bacteria such as P. syringae (various pathovars), the human pathogen P. aeruginosa, the ubiquitous soil bacterium P. putida, and some species that are known to cause problems in dairy products. However... Pseudomonas.

Symptoms

• Ear Pain is both a sensory and emotional experience, generally associated tissue damage, or inflammation. Pain is ultimately a perception, and not an objective bodily state. Despite its unpleasantness, pain is a critical component of the bodys defense system. It is part of a rapid warning and defence relay instructing... pain -- may worsen when pulling the outer ear
• An itch (Latin: pruritus) is a sensation felt on an area of skin that makes a person or animal want to scratch it. Mechanism The central chemical in itch is histamine, a molecule released by mast cells in the skin. Histamine is the chemical that causes the itch and reddening... Itching of the ear or ear canal
• Drainage from the ear -- yellow, yellow-green, Pus is a whitish-yellow or yellow substance that can be found in regions of bacterial infection, including superficial infections, such as pimples. An accumulation of pus in an enclosed tissue space is known as an abscess. Pus consists of macrophages (a type of white blood cell), debris, dead and... pus-like, or foul smelling

Signs and tests

When the physician looks in the ear, it appears red and swollen, including the ear canal. The ear canal may appear Dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a skin irritation characterized by red, flaky skin, sometimes with cracks or tiny blisters. Dermatitis is extremely itchy, but scratching damages the fragile skin and exacerbates the problem so it is important for people with eczema to try to leave the area alone. Typical... eczema-like, with scaly shedding of skin. Touching or moving the outer ear increases the pain. It may be difficult for the physician to see the The tympanum or tympanic membrane, colloquially known as eardrum, is a thin membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. Its function is to transmit sound from the air to the ossicles inside the middle ear. The malleus bone connects the eardrum to the other ossicles. Categories: Auditory... eardrum with an otoscope. Taking some of the ear's drainage and doing a culture on it may identify bacteria or fungus.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection. The ear canal should be cleaned of drainage to allow topical medications to work effectively. Depending on how severe the infection is, it may be necessary for a doctor to aspirate the ear as many times as twice a week for the first two or three weeks of treatment.

Effective medications include eardrops containing An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics are one class of antimicrobials, a larger group which also includes anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic drugs. They are relatively harmless to the host, and therefore can be used to treat infection. The term... antibiotics to fight infection, and In physiology, corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress response, immune response and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte levels, and behavior. Glucocorticoids such as cortisol control... corticosteroids to reduce itching and inflammation. Use of antibiotics to treat ear infections may result in treatment of the wrong cause of the infection because not all ear infections are bacterial; some are fungal, and it is possible to have both a bacterial and fungal ear infection.

Ear drops should be used abundantly (four or five drops at a time) in order to penetrate the end of the ear canal. If the ear canal is very swollen, a wick may be applied in the ear to allow the drops to travel to the end of the canal. Occasionally, pills may be used in addition to the topical medications. For other uses of painkiller, see painkiller (disambiguation) An analgesic (colloquially known as painkiller) is any member of the diverse group of drugs used to relieve pain. Analgesic drugs include the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as the salicylates, narcotic drugs such as morphine, and synthetic drugs with narcotic... Analgesics may be used if pain is severe. Putting something warm against the ears may reduce pain.

Protect ears from further damage. Do not scratch the ears or insert cotton swabs or other objects in the ears. Keep ears clean and dry, and do not let water enter the ears when showering, shampooing, or bathing.

Prognosis

Otitis externa responds well to treatment, but complications may occur if it is not treated. Some individuals with underlying medical problems, such as This article is about the disease that features high blood sugar. The other major but far less common diabetes is diabetes insipidus (water diabetes, DI). Diabetes mellitus is a medical disorder characterized by varying or persistent hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar levels), especially after eating. All types of diabetes mellitus share... diabetes, may be more likely to get complications such as malignant otitis externa.

Complications

• Chronic otitis externa
• Malignant otitis externa
• Spread of infection to other areas of the body

Prevention

• Dry the ear thoroughly after exposure to moisture.
• Avoid swimming in polluted water.
• Use earplugs when swimming.
• Consider putting a few drops of a 1:1 mixture of In general usage, alcohol (from Arabic al-khwl الكحول, or al-ghawl الغول) refers almost always to ethanol, also known as grain alcohol, and often to any beverage that contains ethanol (see alcoholic beverage). This sense underlies the term alcoholism ( addiction... alcohol and white Vinegar (from Old French vinaigre sour wine) is a sour liquid made from the oxidation of ethanol in wine, cider, beer, or the like. Vinegar is typically three to five percent by volume acetic acid, and natural vinegars also contain smaller amounts of tartaric acid, citric acid, and others. Production... vinegar in the ears after they get wet. The alcohol and The chemical compound acetic acid (from the Latin word acetum, meaning vinegar), systematically called ethanoic acid, is the acid that gives vinegar its sour taste. It is a carboxylic acid with chemical formula C2H4O2, often written as CH3COOH to better reflect the structure shown at right. Acetic acid is a... acetic acid prevent bacterial growth.

For pool swimmers who swim to keep fit

• Buy an empty bottle with an eye dropper from a drug store.
• Fill the bottle with a solution made from 1 part alcohol and 1 part white vinegar.
• Keep that bottle in your locker or gym bag.
• Forget the earplugs.
• After your swim, draw out all water from your ears thus:
  • Stand still.
  • Don't jump.
  • Tilt your head to one side.
  • Use the eyedropper to put enough of the alcohol and vinegar solution to fill one ear.
  • Keep the alcohol and vinegar in your ear for 30 seconds.
  • To drain the alcohol and vinegar, tilt your head to the opposite side, and use a tissue to catch the effluent.
  • The solution may burn slightly; it's not intense.
  • The water in your ear will drain out with the alcohol and vinegar.
  • Repeat for the other ear.
  • Verify that no water remains in either ear by tilting your head from side to side and front to back. If any fluid remains inside your ears, you'll hear it.
  • Repeat the steps above if necessary.
  • Let the remnants of the alcohol and vinegar air dry on your outer ear.
• Pool swimmers have very clean, wax-free ears because pool water dissolves ear wax.
• If you have an ear itch, use the alcohol and vinegar mixture. Itching is a sign that something foreign is in your ear and that it needs the alcohol and vinegar treatment.

See also

• Otolaryngology

Source

• Swimmer's Ear (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000622.htm). Medline Plus.