Symptoms Of Swimmer's Ear

Complete Ear Canal Blockage

A complete ear canal blockage is a sign of advanced swimmer's ear, and it may cause patients to have decreased or muffled hearing. Patients who have an ear canal that is completely blocked typically also have swelling and redness in the outer ear, and they may need to be treated by an ear, nose, and throat specialist. The specialist will examine the ear to check whether the infection is confined to the outer ear or if it has spread to the middle ear.

If the infection has advanced to the middle ear, the patient will need different treatments than those used for outer ear infections such as swimmer's ear. Since a complete blockage makes it impossible for ear drops to reach the infected parts of the ear canal, the doctor may need to insert a device called a wick. This device is normally made of gauze or cotton, and it is inserted at the doctor's office. The wick helps increase fluid drainage from the ear, and it also allows medicated ear drops to reach the infected areas more easily. Patients who have had an ear wick inserted may need to have follow-up appointments with their specialist, and they will be advised as to how long the ear wick should remain in place. Patients should take special care to keep their ear dry while using the wick, and it may need to be replaced if it gets wet.

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