Causes of Ear infection

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Outer ear infections can spread from general skin infections, or might just happen on your ear. They can be caused by:

viruses like herpes,
bacteria such as Staphylococci, or
fungi such as candida, which causes thrush.

Infections often get into the outer ear because of scratching the skin. You might scratch the skin because it is itchy due to eczema or psoriasis inside the ear. You might also damage skin and allow infection to enter if you put objects such as cotton buds or pencils in your ear to try to get rid of earwax. This infection is sometimes called swimmerâ€™s ear, because it can be caught though infected or polluted water getting into the ear.

Inner ear infections are often caused by the common cold, which spreads through the tube that connects your ears and nose (the Eustachian tube). They can also be caused by common childhood illnesses such as measles, or by getting water in your ear when you have a burst eardrum.