Swimmer’s ear is an infection when water becomes trapped in the ear. This is a common condition and can last up to three weeks, and it affects the entire ear canal. A doctor in Plano will like to diagnose this condition based on your symptoms along with an office exam. The following are signs of swimmer’s ear and what happens when you see your doctor in Plano. Swimmer’s ear painful, especially with movement on the outside of the ear. Some drainage also occurs with swimmer’s ear.
Symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear
Ear pain is the first symptom associated with swimmer’s ear. It can worsen when the outer ear is pressed on. Other symptoms include difficulty chewing without pain and itching of the ear canal. To alleviate this pain before visiting a doctor in Plano, you can use a warm compress, which assists in the loosening of congestion and for pain relief. Soak a washcloth in warm water, fold it, and place it on the ear for 10 to 15 minutes. A heating pad is also helpful to ease the pain caused by swimmer’s ear.
What the Doctor Will Look At
When you visit your ent doctor, they will look into your ear canal with a lighted instrument called an otoscope. The appearance of your ear canal might appear red, swollen, and scaly. There might be skin flakes and debris present, as well as tenderness. The doctor will also check to make sure that your eardrum isn’t damaged. A swimmer’s ear diagnosis can usually determined during the office visit with your ear nose and throat doctor. If the swimmer’s ear is not treated, it can lead to other issues such as hearing loss if the ear canal is inflamed. The hearing returns if the infection is treated, however. Since the swimmer’s ear usually occurs in the ear canal, and antibiotic ear drops can help with recovery. Sometimes, your doctor in Plano may prescribe antibiotic drops along with steroids to reduce ear canal swelling.
Recovery Time
Swimmer’s ear will start to improve within two days of beginning treatment. Typically, the swimmer’s ear completely clears up within seven to 10 days. It’s important to visit a doctor in Plano right away should you start to feel symptoms, as you don’t want to develop long-term swimmer’s ear and to avoid hearing loss.
Should you feel you have swimmer’s ear, it’s important to contact your doctor in Plano immediately. If you should have severe pain or fever with this condition, it’s best to get to an emergency room. Swimmer’s ear is very treatable when caught early, so if you experience the above symptoms, be sure to consult a physician.
