Ear infection or inflammation of the outer ear | Pokenga taringa

The most common cause of outer ear inflammation is an infection caused by bacteria, or less often, fungus. Your risk of getting an infection is increased if:

• Your ears are often wet. Dampness creates an ideal environment for bacteria and fungi to grow and make your ears more prone to infection.
• Skin damage. This could be from scratching, cleaning with cotton buds, or using ear buds, in-ear headphones or a hearing aid.
• Use of chemicals. These are found in products such as shampoo, conditioners, hair spray and hair dye that can irritate your ears, making them more prone to infection.
• Skin or allergic conditions. Such as dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, acne, asthma or hay fever.
• Narrow ear canals. This stops water draining away easily.
• A health condition that affects your ability to fight infection. For example, diabetes or HIV or if you are undergoing certain treatments, such as chemotherapy.
• Infection of a hair follicle in your ear canal. This can cause a pimple or boil.
• Discharge from middle ear infections. Sometimes infections of the inner ear can produce a pussy discharge that gets stuck in the ear canal and this can cause an outer ear infection.

Dr Sarah Jarvis tells us about the main symptoms being earache and feeling unwell.

Video: Sarah Says: What causes an Ear Infection?

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(Patient UK, 2012)

Often only one ear is affected. Symptoms affect your ear and surrounding area, including:

• ear pain or pain when moving your ear or jaw
• itchiness and irritation in or around the ear canal
• swelling and redness of the ear canal and surrounding area
• peeling skin inside and around the outside ear
• fluid from your ear, often with a bad smell
• hearing loss.

A very rare but dangerous complication is malignant otitis externa. This is the spread of infection to the bones of your ear canal and lower part of your skull. If you have an outer ear infection and experience strange symptoms, such as dizziness or muscular weakness in your face, seek immediate medical help.

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and examine your ear. If your symptoms keep returning, then a swab (using a sterile cotton wool bud) from your ear will be taken and sent to the laboratory for testing.

Initially, your doctor will clean the affected ear and prescribe ear drops and recommend you follow simple self-care measures. Further treatment depends on the severity and cause of the infection or inflammation. For example, specific treatments for skin conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis or eczema may be prescribed. 

Self-care for outer ear pain and swelling

• Try to keep the affected ear dry.
  • Wear a shower cap while showering and avoid swimming until symptoms have fully cleared.
  • If water gets into your ears, turn your head to the side and pull your earlobe in different directions to help the water drain out.
• Gently clean any discharge from the outer ear with cotton wool. Do not insert cotton buds in your ear.
• Remove anything from the ear that may cause irritation, such as earrings or hearing aids.
• Take pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if necessary and according to medical advice.
• If a boil is the cause, holding a warm cloth over the affected ear can provide relief.

Ear candles do not help outer ear infection and are not recommended for treatment as they may cause more injury to the ears.

Ear drops for outer ear pain and swelling

Outer ear infection can get better without ear drops, but this may take weeks. Ear drops can help speed up the healing process. Ear drops usually need to be used several times a day for about a week.

For the treatment of mild discomfort of your outer ear, usually caused by water in the ear, you can get ear drops from your pharmacy, such as Vosol^®. Other ear drops need to be prescribed by a doctor, such as:

• eardrops that contain antibiotics to treat infection, for example, Soframycin^®
• antibiotic eardrops combined with a steroid to reduce the inflammation (swelling) associated with the ear infection, for example, Ciproxin HC^®, Sofradex^®, Locacorten-Vioform^®and Kenacomb^®.  

Read more about eardrops.

Return to the doctor or nurse if things don't settle. If problems with outer ear infection or inflammation are ongoing, your doctor may refer you to an audiologist or an ear specialist for further assessment and treatment.

It's not always possible outer ear infection or inflammation, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk of developing the condition.

• Dry your ears thoroughly with a towel to remove water, sweat or moisture. Use a hair dryer on low to gently dry the ear canal. Don’t use the corner of a towel.
• Avoid damaging your ears by not putting anything inside your ear canal, including cotton wool buds.
• If you swim regularly, use a swim cap that covers your ears or use earplugs (inserted gently to avoid damage) to help prevent water getting into your ears.
• Give your ears a break from ear devices such as earplugs, hearing aids and in-ear headphones.
• Treat and prevent other conditions that may be triggering otitis externa, such as allergies, dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema.