Swimmer Ear: Summer’s best? Water cooling. Many of us want to cool down in a pool, lake, or ocean while enjoying the summer heat. Sunburn is a minor drawback to summer activities. But also water in the ear. Water in the ear can cause “swimmer’s ear” or otitis externa, a brief infection. To avoid complications, your doctor may need to treat it.
Swimmer’s ear? Dr. Nicholas Deep, an otolaryngologist at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, explains, “Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, is an infection of your ear canal, the tunnel-like space between your eardrum and opening of your ear.”
Swimmer’s earwhy? Named appropriately. “Water in your ear after swimming creates a moist environment for bacteria to thrive,” says Deep. He warns that water from shallow lakes or public pools may be poisoned.
Deep stresses that it is not limited to swimmers and that water in the ear is not the only reason. “Despite its name, swimmer’s ear can affect anyone,” explains Deep. Otitis externa can also be caused by cotton swabs or other items in the ear canal.
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Swimmer’s ear: how to tell? Deep says it usually causes “fullness” or pain in the ear that can exacerbate when you tug on the ear or press on the little bump in front of it.
He also says that a serious infection can cause itching. Ear drainage Muffled hearing Fever: Intense, radiating discomfort in your face, neck, and head.
Swimmer’s ear treatment: Swimmer’s ear is a bacterial infection that should be treated by a doctor to minimize consequences. “Antibiotic and steroid-containing eardrops are the main treatment,” he says. If the ear canal is very enlarged, a doctor may place an ear wick, a little sponge-like material that collects ear drops and slowly releases the medicine deeper into the canal.
Swimmer’s ear prevention is preferable. Dry ears prevent swimmer’s ear. Deep suggests swim caps or wax-coated earplugs. Deep recommends drying damp ears with a low-setting blow dryer. Cotton swabs can cause otitis externa, he warns. Enjoy the
water, but watch your ears!