What is Swimmers Ear and How Does it Affect You?

Overview of Swimmers Ear

Swimmers ear, also known as otitis externa, is an infection of the outer ear and its surrounding area. It's a common condition caused by trapped water in the ear canal, which can lead to a bacterial or fungal infection that can cause pain, irritation, and discomfort. Swimmers ear is usually treatable at home with over-the-counter pain medications and ointments, and more severe cases may require antibiotics or other medications.

Symptoms of Swimmers Ear

The primary symptom of swimmers ear is an itchy and painful sensation that gets worse when pressure is placed on the outside of the ear canal. Other symptoms commonly associated with this condition include:

• Redness and swelling of the outer ear
• Discharge from the ear
• A feeling that the ear is stuffed up
• Difficulty hearing
• Fever
• Mild discomfort or tenderness along the outer edge of the ear canal

Causes of Swimmers Ear

The main cause of swimmers ear is when water gets trapped in the ear canal, which provides a moist environment that allows bacteria and fungi to thrive. This can happen when swimming (hence the name) or when water accumulates in the ear canal due to sweating, showering, shampooing your hair, or using cotton swabs to clean your ears.

Risk Factors of Swimmer's Ear

Anyone can get swimmers ear, but certain factors may increase your risk of developing it. These include:

• Being a swimmer or having frequent exposure to water
• Having a weakened immune system
• Having a skin condition such as psoriasis or eczema
• Having an obstructed ear canal
• Having narrow ear canals
• Having already had an infection of the ear

How is Swimmers Ear Diagnosed and Treated?

Diagnosing swimmers ear usually requires a physical examination of the ear canal and tissue samples taken from the ear canal, which are analyzed to identify the type of germ that is causing the infection.

Treatment for swimmer's ear typically includes:

• Oral or topical antibiotics to fight infection
• Over-the-counter pain medications to help with the discomfort
• Ointments to reduce swelling
• Ear drops to dry the ear canal and reduce swelling
• Keeping the ear dry while treating the infection
• Applying heat and/or cold to the affected area

In some cases, more severe swimmer's ear infections may require a surgical procedure to drain the ear canal. Your doctor can discuss this with you if that is the necessary course of treatment.

How to Prevent Swimmers Ear

The best way to prevent swimmers ear is to avoid trapping water in your ear canal. This can be done by using ear plugs while swimming and avoiding inserting any objects, such as cotton swabs, into the ear canal. You should also make sure to dry your ears thoroughly after bathing or swimming, and avoid using oil-based products in your ear canal.

In addition, you should never attempt to self-diagnose and treat swimmers ear, as certain symptoms may be indicative of other conditions. If you're experiencing any of the symptoms above, you should contact your doctor for further assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

Swimmers ear is a common, treatable condition and following these precautionary steps can help you prevent it from occurring.