Causes

• According to the Cleveland Clinic, the dark, warm, water-retaining ear canal perfectly suits the growth of bacteria. Swimming in polluted water, small ear canals, aggressive ear cleaning, earwax, and allergies all contribute to trapped water in the ear, reports the Mayo Clinic.
  
  

Effects

• The Mayo Clinic explains cases range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms include itching, slight redness of skin, some discomfort and drainage of odorless fluid. Advanced and severe cases contain increased pain when touching the ear, swelling of the neck lymph nodes, redness, inflammation, and flaking skin.
  
  

Considerations

• The Mayo Clinic's tips for administering ear drops include: warm the ear drop solution, get help inserting the drops, lie sideways and use cotton balls to absorb excess fluid. Avoid swimming.
  
  

Time Frame

• The website Sightandhearing.com reports the ear may require a week to 10 days before recovery.
  
  

Solutions/ Prevention

• According to Yogawiz, home remedies entail tilting the head, moving the jaw, chewing gum, using a blow dryer on low, or clutching the nose and blowing it. An equal amount of kitchen vinegar and rubbing alcohol blended into a solution breaks down earwax. According to Betterhealth.gov, treatment centers on painkillers, heat packs, anti-fungal medications, antibiotic or steroid-based ear drops, and oral antibiotics. The Cleveland Clinic warns against using cotton swabs or any instrument that damages ear tissue.
  
  

Warning

• Ear infections worsen with time. According to Sightandhearing.com, stopping treatment prematurely, even if the ear improves, may reignite the infection.