Swimmer's Ear: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Spending time in the water, whether at a water park, beach, or pool, comes with risks. Aside from issues that primarily affect the skin, like sunburn and heat rash, indulging in water activities can easily lead to a swimmer's ear if you aren’t aware of the proper precautions. 

Want to have fun in the water and stay safe this summer? Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment for swimmer’s ear.

What Is Swimmer’s Ear?

Swimmer’s ear is an infection brought on by spending too much time in the water. It’s a fairly common condition, affecting more than 200,000 people in the US annually.

The infection can be fungal or bacterial, and if it isn't treated in a timely manner, it can lead to serious health issues, like hearing loss.

Causes of Swimmer’s Ear

Thanks to its name, many people assume spending too much time in the water solely causes swimmer's ear. 

However, even people who rarely enter the water can develop this condition. Due to their narrow ear canals, children are more likely to develop swimmer’s ear than adults, but this condition can affect anyone under the right circumstances.

Several things can contribute to developing this issue, including:

• Skin Conditions like Eczema or Psoriasis: Certain skin conditions can make a person more likely to develop swimmer’s ear. Eczema and psoriasis in the ear can make the canal more sensitive to irritation, causing it to crack and develop an infection more easily.
• Lack of Earwax: Earwax protects the ear canal from dust, debris, bacteria, and fungi. Removing too much earwax while cleaning the ears, or having a condition that causes a lack of earwax, can leave a person more vulnerable to developing swimmer’s ear. 
• An Injured Ear: Your ear can become injured if you stick an object into it to remove earwax or scratch it. This injury can increase the risk of developing swimmer’s ear.
• Swimming in Lakes and Ponds: Swimming in freshwater sources like lakes, rivers, and ponds increases your risk of developing an infection because these water sources are more likely to be contaminated with bacteria and fungi than a swimming pool.

Swimmer’s Ear Symptoms

Pain and itchiness are the first signs that indicate a problem to address. However, those suffering from this condition may experience a range of other symptoms, including:

• Drainage from the ear, which is often yellow or green pus
• A sense of fullness in the ear or a feeling of something being in the canal
• Swelling and redness in the outer ear
• A slightly elevated temperature
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or around the ear
• Decreased hearing ability or temporary hearing loss

If you experience any of these symptoms, seeing a medical professional is important.

What Can Be Mistaken for Swimmer’s Ear?

Swimmer’s ear is often confused with a middle ear infection, but there are a couple of key differences between the two conditions. 

A bacterial or fungal infection causes swimmer's ear, while a viral infection causes a middle ear infection. 

Additionally, a middle ear infection occurs behind the eardrum. On the other hand, swimmer’s ear occurs in the ear canal, the pathway between your middle and outer ear.

Swimmer’s Ear vs Ear Infection

There are a few symptoms that can help you differentiate between swimmer’s ear and ear infections, such as:

• Redness and Swelling: Redness and swelling of the outer ear is associated with swimmer’s ear.
• Pain: A middle ear infection typically causes deeper pain in the ear and increases when you lie down. Swimmer’s ear causes pain closer to the ear opening and increases when you tug on the earlobe.

Many other symptoms, like fever, itchiness, and difficulty hearing, are similar for both conditions. 

If you think you have an ear infection of any kind, visiting a facility like The Urgency Room is a great option. They can diagnose the infection and provide you with the appropriate treatment.

FAQs

Will Swimmer’s Ear Go Away By Itself?

Swimmer’s ear isn’t a condition that will go away on its own. It’s a bacterial or fungal infection that requires medicine to clear up. Your provider will likely prescribe ear drops containing antibacterials and corticosteroids. They will likely also suggest over-the-counter medications to relieve pain and discomfort.

Can I Prevent Swimmer’s Ear?

Keeping your ears dry is the best way to prevent swimmer’s ear. Consider wearing a swimming cap, especially when visiting fresh bodies of water like rivers and lakes. Furthermore, keep up with your ear’s overall health by addressing skin conditions like eczema and avoiding using Q-tips or other objects in the ear. 

How to Get Treatment for Swimmer’s Ear

Thankfully, with the right treatment, swimmer’s ear usually clears up in about 7-10 days. You can contact your healthcare provider to schedule an online or in-person visit to address this condition. This condition tends to come with very uncomfortable symptoms, so getting seen as quickly as possible is essential. 

Visit our website and schedule your visit today. Same-day appointments are available!