How Can I Avoid Swimmer’s Ear? 

Swimmer’s ear is the nickname for a bacterial infection of the skin of the ear canal, and it can be very painful. Also known as otitis externa, it affects millions of people every year, especially kids.

Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is an ear canal infection. Your ear canal is the pathway between your outer ear and your middle ear. Swimmer’s ear can be a bacterial infection or fungal infection.

We call it “swimmer’s ear” because avid swimmers commonly experience it. But anyone can get it — especially during the warmer months when many people spend more time in the water.

Left untreated, swimmer’s ear may muffle your hearing. In some cases, it can even cause temporary hearing loss. Most of the time, treatment solves any infection-related hearing issues.

What are the symptoms of otitis externa?

• The early symptoms include clogged ears and muffled hearing. If left untreated, intense pain, swelling and discharge usually develop.
• Ear pain that may increase when gently tugging on your earlobe.
• Fever.
• Fluid draining from your ear.
• Itchiness inside of your ear.
• Muffled hearing.
• Redness and swelling in your outer ear.
• Swollen lymph nodes around your ear or upper neck.

Treatment

What’s the outlook for people with swimmer’s ear?

Swimmer’s ear usually isn’t serious when you get treatment. In most cases, you can expect the infection to go away in about a week. Without treatment, complications — like the spread of infection — can occur. These complications usually require stronger antibiotics or antifungals.

Will swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) go away by itself?

No, it won’t. Swimmer’s ear is an infection in your ear canal that won’t go away unless you treat it. Left untreated, a swimmer’s ear infection may spread to the base of your skull, your brain or your cranial nerves.

Because infection can spread beyond your outer ear, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider whenever you notice symptoms. The sooner you treat it, the better.

Prevention

Can swimmer’s ear be prevented?

Yes, keeping your ears dry is the most effective way to prevent swimmer’s ear.

To further reduce your risk, follow these otitis externa self-care tips:

• Avoid swimming in polluted water.
• Don’t stick anything into your ear canal, including cotton swabs. Using these items can drive debris deeper into the ear canal, disturb the skin inside the ear or break the skin.
• Drain water from your ears by tipping your head from side to side and gently pulling your earlobe in different directions.
• Keep ears dry. After swimming or bathing, tip your head from side to side with the ear on each side facing down. This helps water drain from the ear canal.
  Dry only the outer ear by wiping it gently with a soft towel. You also can safely dry the outer ear canal with a blow dryer. Use the lowest setting and hold it at least 1 foot (about 0.3 meters) away from the ear.
• Use cotton balls to absorb excess water in your ears when you shower.
• Take care after an ear infection or surgery. If you’ve recently had an ear infection or ear surgery, talk to your healthcare professional before swimming.
• Protect your ears while swimming. Wear swim plugs while swimming to keep your ears dry.

FAQ

Q-tips can increase swimmer’s ear risk?

Earwax is protective. Removing earwax unnecessarily can lead to an increased risk of infection. In some cases, impacted earwax can be problematic, but follow your doctor’s instructions on how to treat it.

Any trauma or scratches to the skin of the ear canal can provide an entry point for the bacteria. People who are at higher risk of swimmer’s ear include people use cotton swabs or Q-Tips in their ears, people who scratch their ears a lot, or those with eczema or psoriasis. It is not normal to have itchy ears.

Can swimmers ear cause permanent hearing loss?

Fortunately, symptoms of swimmer’s ear, including hearing loss, are temporary and get better with treatment.

Can swimmer’s ear cause tinnitus?

Sometimes a ringing in the affected ear, known as tinnitus, can occur. This, too, is usually temporary and gets better with treatment.

A note from Houri Hearing

References:

1. Swimmer’s Ear (Otitis Externa): Symptoms & Care, Clevelandclinic.org
2. Ask Mayo Expert. Acute otitis externa. Mayo Clinic; 2022.
3.Goguen LA. External otitis: Pathogenesis, clinical features and diagnosis.
4. Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa). American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. .
5. Healthy swimming: Ear infections. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
6. Goguen LA, et al. External otitis: Treatment.
7. National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID); National Center for Environmental Health