Hours of summer fun in the water may come at a cost: swimmer’s ear. Often painful, swimmer’s ear is usually seen in children, but adults can get it, as well. Here are five facts to know about swimmer’s ear.

Swimmer’s ear is an inflammation, irritation or infection in the ear’s outer canal.

You may be familiar with middle ear infections, which are often caused by strep or a cold. Swimmer’s ear is different – it occurs in the outer canal of the ear.

Water in the outer canal is only one possible cause of swimmer’s ear.

Swimmer’s ear often results from water that stays in the outer ear canal, wearing down protective wax and skin and creating an environment where bacteria multiply.

But swimmer’s ear can also be caused by getting something stuck in the ear or scratching the outer ear canal and damaging the skin. Chronic swimmer’s ear can occur from allergies or skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Swimmer’s ear is not contagious.

Swimmer’s ear has distinctive symptoms.

Swimmer’s ear often causes yellow or yellow-green, pus-like or foul-smelling discharge from the ear. With swimmer’s ear, pain intensifies when tugging on the outer ear. The infection may cause itchiness, redness or swelling.

People with swimmer’s ear may also experience muffled hearing or hearing loss. Swimmer’s ear may even be accompanied by a fever.

See your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. It is important to seek treatment to avoid complications from an infection.

Swimmer’s ear can be treated with antibiotics.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotic ear drops to treat your swimmer’s ear if it is caused by bacteria. Your provider may also recommend corticosteroids to reduce itching and inflammation and medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to decrease pain.

You can take steps to prevent swimmer’s ear.

To keep water from getting in your ears when swimming, wear a bathing cap or ear plugs. Avoid swimming in unclean water. Your healthcare provider may recommend ear-drying drops to use after swimming.

Use a clean towel to thoroughly dry your ears after swimming or showering. To help water drain from your ears, tilt your head back and forth so that each ear faces down. Try pulling the ear that is facing down in different directions to help get all the water out. If water remains, use a hair dryer on the lowest heat and fan setting to dry your ears. Be sure to hold the hair dryer at least 12 inches from your ear and wave it back and forth rather than holding it still.

Don’t put anything such as cotton-tip swabs or pencils in your ear. Don’t remove ear wax, either, because it helps protect your ear canal.

If you are looking for a primary care provider, Aultman Medical Group Primary Care has dozens of physicians and providers across the region, in your community, who are accepting new patients. Visit aultman.org/NewDoc or call our new patient hotline at 330-433-1264.

Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
MedlinePlus
The StayWell Company, LLC