Alternative treatments for swimmer's ear
Swimmer's ear, or acute external otitis, is an inflammation of the external ear canal often resulting from bacterial infections, typically exacerbated by excessive moisture. While swimming is commonly associated with this condition, various activities that lead to moisture accumulation can also contribute to its onset. Symptoms include intense itching, pain, a feeling of fullness, and possible drainage from the ear canal. Conventional treatments often involve antimicrobial and steroidal ear drops, but many people consider complementary and alternative remedies, especially in early, uncomplicated cases.
Common alternative treatments include ear drops made from a mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar, which can help dry the ear and prevent bacterial growth. Tea tree oil has also shown some effectiveness against certain bacteria, although caution is advised for individuals with a history of ear issues. Other home remedies include using a hair dryer to reduce moisture and hot compresses for pain relief. However, ear candles are strongly discouraged due to safety concerns. Preventive measures, such as using ear plugs and ensuring the ear is dried after swimming, can help mitigate the risks of developing swimmer's ear. If symptoms persist despite these alternative efforts, it is advisable to seek medical evaluation.
Alternative treatments for swimmer's ear
DEFINITION: Treatment for an inflammatory condition of the external ear canal commonly caused by a bacterial infection.
Overview
Swimmer’s ear, or acute external otitis, is a painful condition of the external ear canal. Although not always caused by swimming, the condition is usually related to excessive moisture in the ear canal that causes a favorable environment for bacteria to multiply. In North America, 98 percent of swimmer’s ear infections are caused by bacteria. The majority of cases involve a bacterial infection primarily affecting the lining of the ear canal.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and polymicrobial infections are the most common pathogens. Swimmer’s ear is a common infection with a reported yearly incidence between 1:200 and 1:50 in the general population. The chances of having swimmer's ear during a lifetime may be as high as 10 percent. People who live in warmer, more humid climates and people with diabetes are at increased risk.
Treatment of swimmer’s ear may require a medical professional to clean the ear. Antimicrobial, steroidal, and acidifying ear drops are the mainstays of conventional medical treatment. Over-the-counter ear drops and complementary and alternative treatments may be effective for early, uncomplicated cases.
Causes and Symptoms
The most common cause of swimmer’s ear is increased moisture trapped in the ear canal. This moisture may come from bathing, showering, humidity, or swimming. Moisture itself may create an environment for bacteria already present in the ear canal to multiply, or the bacteria may be introduced into the ear canal from contaminated water sources. Causative bacteria may be present in swimming pools, hot tubs, and ponds.
Other factors that may contribute to swimmer’s ear include frequent cleaning of the ear canals, trauma to the skin of the ear canals, wearing a hearing aid, eczema of the ear canals, and obstruction of the ear canals by wax accumulation. Wax serves a protective function in the ear canal. It acts as a barrier to moisture and infection and may inhibit the growth of bacteria because of its slightly acidic pH.
Symptoms of swimmer’s ear usually develop rapidly in about a forty-eight-hour period. Intense itching is a common initial symptom, followed by gradual onset of pain, a sense of fullness, and decreased hearing. The pain can be severe and radiate to the jaw or side of the head. In most cases, swimmer’s ear is unilateral. The classic sign of swimmer’s ear is pain elicited by pulling or pressing on the outer ear. The opening of the ear canal may also appear red and swollen. Drainage from the ear canal, fever, and swollen lymph nodes may also be present.
As an infection, swimmer’s ear can negatively impact hearing if left untreated. This can include hearing loss. Other effects can evolve into bone and cartilage issues and the spread of the infection to other areas, such as cranial nerves. Treatment is necessary to induce healing, which will not occur otherwise. A very common prescription is specialized ear drops. There are likewise many measures that can be taken to prevent this condition. These can include the use of earplugs when showering or swimming. If liquids enter the ear, a person can tilt their head or pull at the earlobe with their head pointed down to induce the ear to drain. The ear should be kept dry, although cotton swabs should be avoided. A towel can be used instead.
Complementary and Alternative Treatments
No studies compare complementary and alternative therapies to conventional medical treatment of swimmer’s ear. However, there is a long history of using home remedies that have stood the test of time long enough to have some validity. The most common and effective home remedy is ear drops made from rubbing alcohol and white vinegar.
A mixture of equal parts alcohol and vinegar will help dry the ear, and the acidity of the vinegar will inhibit bacterial growth. If there is any chance that the eardrum is perforated, these drops should not be used. People who have a history of ear surgery or ear trauma or who have been diagnosed with a perforated eardrum should not use any ear drop without medical clearance.
Tea tree oil is another ear drop treatment that has had some success. Studies show that this oil can inhibit the growth of about 70 percent of the bacteria that cause swimmer’s ear, but it may not be effective against most Pseudomonas bacteria. Other potentially effective home remedies include using a hair dryer to reduce moisture in the ear and using hot compresses to reduce pain and swelling. Homeopathic remedies for swimmer's ear include garlic oil and mullein oil.
One home remedy that is not effective and may be quite dangerous is the use of ear candles. The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning against the use of ear candles. These devices have no evidence to support their use and can cause injuries to the face and the ear canal. Serious facial burns and perforations of the eardrum have been reported.
Swimmer’s ear may be effectively prevented using home remedies. These include using alcohol and vinegar drops before and after swimming, using a hair dryer after swimming to dry the ear, and using ear plugs and a bathing cap during swimming. Malignant external otitis is a serious complication of swimmer’s ear, in which an untreated external ear infection spreads to the skull and the brain. A medical professional should evaluate swimmer’s ear symptoms that do not respond to complementary and alternative treatments.
Bibliography
Burton, M. J., et al. "Extracts from The Cochrane Library: Interventions for Acute Otitis Externa." Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, vol. 143, 2010, pp. 8-11.
Fontaine, Dominique, and Adrienne Santos. "Garlic in Ear: Benefits and Risks for Earaches." Healthline, 29 Aug. 2024, www.healthline.com/health/garlic-in-ear. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.
Rosenfeld, R., et al. "Clinical Practice Guideline: Acute Otitis Externa." Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, vol. 134, 2006, pp. S4-S23.
"Swimmer's Ear." Mayo Clinic, 13 Aug. 2021, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swimmers-ear/symptoms-causes/syc-20351682. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.
"Swimmer's Ear." Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/swimmers-ear#. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.
"Swimmer's Ear (Otitis Externa)." Cleveland Clinic, 15 Nov. 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8381-swimmers-ear-otitis-externa. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.