Acid for the ears

Otitis externa is extremely painful and one of the most common diseases in ENT practices. It affects the area from the auricle to the eardrum and is usually caused by bacteria. On average, one in ten people will develop it once in their lifetime. The good news is that the inflammation is usually harmless as long as it does not spread to other areas. Otitis externa occurs when the natural environment in the ear canal is disturbed, germs invade and infect the tissue. The earwax (cerumen) normally provides a protective barrier. It absorbs pathogens and dirt particles and transports them away towards the auricle. It also creates a slightly acidic environment, which inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi.

Frequent contact with water is most detrimental for this natural protective barrier, which is why people who dive a lot or swim in non-chlorinated waters are particularly likely to suffer from the condition also known as swimmer’s otitis, swimmer’s ear or diver’s ear. The water softens the skin in the ear canal and washes away protective earwax.

Excessive cleanliness also disrupts the ear’s natural protection. Soaps or shampoos increase the pH value in the ear canal, so that the protective acidic environment is lost. If you use cotton swabs in your ear, you can cause tiny injuries in the ear canal that increase the risk of infection. In chronic otitis externa, patients usually suffer from underlying dermatological diseases that involve the ear canal, such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis.

Patients with signs of otitis externa should consult an ENT specialist. Severe earache is typical of the inflammation, or there is usually also severe itching if fungi are causing the inflammation. Other possible symptoms are otorrhoea, i.e. the discharge of secretion from the external auditory canal, and a reddened and touch-sensitive, sometimes even scaly skin in the auditory canal. If the ear also swells due to the inflammation, patients can no longer hear as good.

The inflammation can affect one ear or extend to both, and the eardrum and auricle can also be affected. Therapy is based on cleaning the ear canal, pain management and the use, if necessary, of antiseptic and antimicrobial substances. The doctor carefully cleans the ear canal. This makes sense because cellular debris and secretions can accumulate in the ear canal due to the inflammation. Only when the deposits have been removed can locally effective medicines also reach their place of application.

Systemic administration of antibiotics is necessary, among other things, when diabetics or people with a weakened immune system are affected. While the inflammation usually heals within one to two weeks without consequences, these two groups have an increased risk of complications. They may develop a special form, a necrotising ear canal inflammation (otitis externa necroticans), in which the inflammation spreads to the skull bone and the cranial nerves. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is often found to be the trigger. Affected persons must be treated in hospital and receive a pathogen-specific parenteral or oral antibiotic therapy according to an antibiogram for at least four to six weeks.

PTA may recommend ear drops with procaine and phenazone for the pain in uncomplicated otitis externa, as in Otalgan® ear drops. It is important to note that they should only be used if the eardrum is not damaged. If the pain feels very severe, the affected person can also take analgesics.

Otherwise, it is important to keep the ears dry and to refrain from swimming or diving. It is also better for patients to avoid using earplugs or in-ear headphones during the infection. If they want to reuse them later, PTA can recommend an alcohol-based solution for disinfection to avoid re-infection.

To prevent re-infection, proper ear hygiene is indispensable. It is usually sufficient to gently remove excess wax from the outer ear with a damp cloth. In cases of excessive cerumen production, such as hearing aid wearers, it is best for patients to discuss with the doctor whether they can come in regularly for professional cleaning. In some cases, special ear cleaning products can help, such as Otowaxol®, Audispray® or Otitex® ear drops.

A good tip is always to keep your ears dry. For divers, special diving masks that also enclose the ears can be a solution. For summer bathing fun, there are tight-fitting bathing caps that cover the ears well and are not sufficient under water, but they do keep splashing water out.