{"id":2732,"date":"2023-08-10T12:47:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T17:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/?p=2732"},"modified":"2024-04-11T13:00:27","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T18:00:27","slug":"when-ears-are-swollen-shut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/when-ears-are-swollen-shut\/","title":{"rendered":"When Ears Are Swollen Shut"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"899\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/CC-ENT-Blog-When-Ears-Are-Swollen-Shut.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2735\" srcset=\"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/CC-ENT-Blog-When-Ears-Are-Swollen-Shut.jpeg 899w, https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/CC-ENT-Blog-When-Ears-Are-Swollen-Shut-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/CC-ENT-Blog-When-Ears-Are-Swollen-Shut-256x171.jpeg 256w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 899px) 100vw, 899px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Most ear infections cause inner pain, which means that a visual inspection of the ear doesn\u2019t often show external symptoms. But as the ear canal swells, the symptoms become more apparent \u2013 and this condition can cause the external ear canal to swell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In severe cases, a complete ear blockage can occur because of the swelling. This condition is known as otitis externa. Usually, the infection starts within the ear canal, then causes the spread of infection through the ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symptoms of a Serious Ear Infection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people experience minor symptoms at the beginning, which get worse when the condition is left untreated. Common\u00a0symptoms\u00a0include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mild to severe ear pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Itching sensation in the ear canal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Abnormal discharge of fluid from the ear<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Temporary hearing loss<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the time, only one ear is affected. Usually, the infection is caused by bacterial exposure, although these symptoms can also develop due to allergies, environmental irritation, or fungal infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Causes the Ears to be Swollen Shut?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your <a href=\"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/ent\/ear-infection\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/ent\/ear-infection\/\">ears can become swollen shut<\/a> due to the development of an infection or exposure to irritants. Common causes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Exposure to bacteria in polluted water, such as swimming pools or hot tubs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inserting cotton swabs in the ear canal for cleaning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact with irritating chemicals, such as hair dye or hair spray<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damage to the ear canal skin due to trauma or objects inserted into the ear<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Skin conditions in the ear canal, such as seborrhea or eczema<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common cause of this condition is due to water in the ear. Having water in the ear creates an ideal environment where infection can flourish. Additionally, the uncomfortable feeling often causes people to tug or scratch at the ear to relieve the pressure. As a result, these actions can damage the skin inside the ear, which increases the risk of complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019t Delay Treatment for an Ear Infection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless of whether your ear is swollen shut completely, you shouldn\u2019t delay treatment if you suspect that you have an ear infection. <a href=\"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/about\/our-team\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/about\/our-team\/\">Visiting an ENT<\/a> is an important step to minimize the risk of serious complications. When ear infections are left untreated, it could lead to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recurring symptoms and infections<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hearing loss \u2013 usually temporary, although long-term damage can occur<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damage to the cartilage and bone if the infection spreads<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Our experienced staff will complete a thorough exam to determine the cause of your symptoms. We provide a variety of in-office treatments to eliminate the infection and help you find relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Treatment and Prevention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The most successful treatments focus on not only opening the ear passageways but also addressing the underlying infection. When the ear infection is eliminated, then the swelling will go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is also important to consider preventive steps to minimize the risk of swollen ears in the future. For example, if the ear symptoms are caused by irritants, allergies, or environmental exposure, then you need to avoid the compounds that are causing the symptoms. Discuss preventive steps that can be followed if your ears are often exposed to water due to swimming or sports activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why You Should Visit an ENT<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While treatments may be available from general medical clinics, the best solution is to talk to a specialist for serious conditions affecting your ears, nose, or throat. We stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the ENT industry, including modern diagnostic equipment in our office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During your appointment, a physical exam will be completed to determine how the swelling is affecting drainage within your ears. If digital imaging is required, then we can use state-of-the-art equipment to see the structure of the middle and\u00a0inner ear\u00a0areas. This diagnostic step is important when the ears are swollen shut because the view into the ear is blocked by the swelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Treatment options vary depending on the severity of symptoms and the doctor\u2019s diagnosis. For example, the ENT might use gentle suction to remove debris, earwax, fluid, and other elements that are blocking the ear canal. This treatment opens up the area so medicated ear drops can be applied to the infected ear. In cases where the ear is blocked due to swelling, a cotton wick might need to be inserted into the ear. The cotton wick is removed several days later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Schedule an Appointment with an ENT near Collin County, Denton or Dallas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you concerned about your ear symptoms? If you suspect that you have an infection, or you are experiencing recurring symptoms, then it is time to talk to a specialist about your concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Collin County Ear, Nose, and Throat provides the quality care you deserve. Visit a nearby office in Frisco or Plano, TX. You can request an appointment through our online form, or call the office for an exam: (972) 596-4005.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most ear infections cause inner pain, which means that a visual inspection of the ear doesn\u2019t often show external symptoms. But as the ear canal swells, the symptoms become more apparent \u2013 and this condition can cause the external ear canal to swell. In severe cases, a complete ear blockage can occur because of the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2735,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ear"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2732"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2732\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2736,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2732\/revisions\/2736"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}