Swimming
Swimming in polluted water is a common way to contract swimmers ear, but it is also possible to contract swimmers ear from water trapped in the ear canal after a shower, especially in a humid climate. Prolonged swimming can saturate the skin of the canal, compromising its barrier function and making it more susceptible to further damage if the ear is instrumented with cotton swabs after swimming. Constriction of the ear canal from bone growth (Surfers ear) can trap debris leading to infection. Saturation divers have reported otitis externa during occupational exposure. Objects in ear
Even without exposure to water, the use of objects such as cotton swabs or other small objects to clear the ear canal is enough to cause breaks in the skin, and allow the condition to develop. Once the skin of the ear canal is inflamed, external otitis can be drastically enhanced by either scratching the ear canal with an object or by allowing water to remain in the ear canal for any prolonged length of time. Infections
The majority of cases are due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, followed by a great number of other gram-positive and gram-negative species. Candida albicans and Aspergillus species are the most common fungal pathogens responsible for the condition. Diagnosis
When the ear is inspected, the canal appears red and swollen in well-developed cases. The ear canal may also appear eczema-like, with scaly shedding of skin. Touching or moving the outer ear increases the pain, and this maneuver on physical exam is important in establishing the clinical diagnosis.
Lymphedema praecox is a condition characterized by swelling of the soft tissues in which an excessive amount of lymph has accumulated, and generally develops in females between the ages of nine and twenty-five. This is the most common form of primary lymphedema, accounting for about 80% of the patients. : 848

See also
Lymphedema
Lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome
Aagenaes syndrome
List of cutaneous conditions

References


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