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When suffering from otitis externa occurs, it must be known that this is caused by exposure to one of the types of infections in the ear canal area, and then the individual appears in a state of inflammation, swelling, pain and redness. It is worth noting that this is one of the common causes of severe ear pain. In more detail, today we will learn about the causes of otitis externa and what are its most important symptoms? How can we deal with this matter in a sound medical manner?
Causes of otitis externa
Causes of otitis externa
Otitis externa occurs due to some causes, which are as follows:
- Exposure to some types of bacteria and fungi
- Due to the presence of some foreign objects that become stuck in the ear canal.
- Exposure to injury by using a piece of cotton or a hard object to clean the ear canal, and then a state of damage to the ear canal occurs, which causes bleeding and inflammation in that area.
The groups most at risk of developing external ear infections
The groups most at risk of developing external ear infections
In addition to the direct factors that can cause otitis externa, there are also potential factors for some groups at risk of developing this disease, which are as follows:
- Young children with narrow ear canals have water in their ears, causing an increased risk of infection.
- People with sensitive skin.
- People who have less earwax to protect the ear canal.
- People with diabetes.
- People who swim regularly in areas with unclean water.
- Wear headphones tucked deep into the ear.
Read also: What should I do if a foreign body gets into my child’s ear?
Manifestations of otitis externa
Manifestations of otitis externa
Otitis externa is considered an important disease with very clear symptoms, which patients can detect by experiencing some of the following manifestations:
* Depending on the disease, whether this is related to (ear canal, acute otitis media, malignant otitis, etc.), it must be known that the condition of the disease will vary at that time, but basically the symptoms of pain will increase at night, especially when there is Strong effect on the ear.
* The patient is at risk of developing a fever due to the body’s reaction to the inflamed site.
* Red and yellow secretions appear on the side of the ear, which can directly cause narrowing in this area.
* Otitis externa also appears in the form of hearing loss and tinnitus, and in some cases, hearing loss can be short-term.
Methods of treating otitis externa
Methods of treating otitis externa
In the beginning, we must be reassured because once most cases of otitis externa start taking ear drops that contain antibiotics, these pains will be eliminated immediately. However, when wanting to ensure maximum therapeutic effectiveness, it is necessary for an intensive course of treatment to be prescribed by specialist doctors to confront any severe progressive risks of the disease.
As an example, the medications that the doctor may prescribe are pain relievers. Ear drops containing antibiotics can be combined with a corticosteroid. The therapeutic dose is usually prescribed for a minimum of one week and a maximum of two weeks.
It is worth noting that oral antibiotics can be prescribed when exposed to some types of severe infections or inflammation, since at these times when these conditions cannot be treated with ear drops, oral antibiotics will be prescribed to fully recover from the disease.
From here we can say that when undertaking the treatment of otitis externa, attention must be paid primarily to ensure therapeutic effectiveness and safety, as the patient must fully adhere to the doctor’s instructions, and not arbitrarily adjust the medication dose or stop treatment without consulting the specialist therapist following up on the medical condition.
Ear cleaning
On the other hand, attention must be paid to daily ear hygiene, but taking into account minimizing the placement of any tools to avoid damaging the skin and creating conditions for the entry of bacteria. It is worth noting that this matter is implemented by using ear hygiene products recommended by the doctor and following appropriate hygiene procedures.
It should also be noted that it is necessary to avoid washing the ears with water yourself, because this can increase the risk of ear infection and damage while receiving therapeutic doses. Therefore, if there are any unusual signs such as pain, swelling, pus, or symptoms that do not subside, it is necessary to immediately go to the specialist treating physician and inform him of the medical condition in detail.
