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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffSwimmer's ear usually isn't serious, but complications such as the following can occur:
- Temporary hearing loss. You may experience muffled hearing that usually goes away when the infection clears up.
- Long-term infections (chronic otitis externa). An outer ear infection is usually considered chronic if signs and symptoms persist for more than three months. Chronic infections are more common if there are conditions that make treatment difficult, such as a rare strain of bacteria, an allergic skin reaction, an allergic reaction to an antibiotic, or a combination of a bacterial and fungal infection.
- Deep skin infection (cellulitis). Chronic swimmer's ear may result in the spread of infection into deep layers and connective tissues of the skin.
- Bone and cartilage damage (necrotizing otitis externa). An outer ear infection that spreads can cause inflammation and damage to the skin and cartilage of the outer ear and bones of the lower part of the skull, causing increasingly severe pain. Older adults, people with diabetes or people with weakened immune systems are at increased risk. Another term for necrotizing otitis externa is malignant otitis externa, but it isn't a cancer (malignant).
- More widespread infection. If swimmer's ear develops into necrotizing otitis externa, the infection may spread and affect other parts of your body, such as the brain or nearby nerves. This rare infection can be life-threatening.
References
- Osguthorpe JD, et al. Otitis externa: Review and clinical update. American Family Physician. 2006;74(9):1510-1516.
- Ruckenstein M. Infections of the external ear. In: Cummings C, et al., eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier/Mosely; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/102996601-2/0/1263/1195.html?tocnode=49546210&fromURL=1195.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01985-4..X5001-1--part11_5058. Accessed Aug. 25, 2008.
- Grunstein E, et al. Diseases of the external ear. In: Lalwani A, ed. Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2829939. Accessed Aug. 25, 2008.
- Goguen L. External otitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 25, 2008.
