To beat the heat, there’s no better way to cool off than taking a dip or dive into a pool or the ocean.  But beware.  That refreshing swim may seem innocent enough but if some water stays in the ear, an annoying infection can get started known as swimmer’s ear.

How do you get swimmer’s ear?

Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, is an infection in the outer ear canal brought on by water that remains in your ear after swimming.  This moist environment is perfect for bacteria to grow setting up an infection leading to certain symptoms.

The infection is caused by bacteria found in water and soil.  Normally your ear’s natural defenses can block bacteria from causing harm but if the conditions are right, your ear’s defenses are weakened and bacterial growth begins. The conditions could be excess moisture in the ear from swimming, heavy perspiration, or humid weather all creating just the right environment for bacterial growth. 

Another way swimmer’s ear can happen is by putting your fingers, cotton swabs or other objects in your ear damaging the thin layer of skin lining your ear canal.

Risk factors increasing the chance of swimmer’s ear

Certain risk factors can increase the chance of developing swimmer’s ear:

· Swimming, swimming in water with high bacteria levels like a lake or swimming in dirty water.  Rinse ears out afterward with clean water.

· A narrow ear canal in a child that can easily trap water

· Being too aggressive when cleaning ears with a cotton swab of other object

· Wearing headphones or a hearing aid

· Skin allergies or irritation from jewelry, hair spray or hair dyes

· Wearing earplugs. These can irritate the ear canal

· Failing to tilt and shake your head to drain water from your ears

· Failing to remove a hearing aid after being in the water.  Take it out as soon as you as can to let the ear dry out.  Hearing aids can push ear wax deeper into the ear canal.

How would I know if I have this?

At the start of the infection, symptoms are generally mild but can get worse if it isn’t treated or if the infection spreads. 

Mild symptoms include:

· Itching in your ear canal.

· Slight redness inside your ear.

· Mild discomfort made worse by pulling on your outer ear or pushing on the little “bump” in from of your ear.

· Some drainage of clear, odorless fluid.

Moderate symptoms include:

· More intense itching

· Increasing pain

· More extensive redness in your ear

· Excessive fluid drainage

· Discharge of pus

· Feeling of fullness inside your ear and partial blockage of your ear canal by swelling, fluid and debris.

· Decreased or muffled hearing

Symptoms of advanced progression include:

· Severe pain that may radiate to your face, neck or side of your head

· Complete blockage of your ear canal

· Redness or swelling of your outer ear

· Swelling in the lymph nodes in your neck

· Fever

Treatment

Swimmer’s ear needs to be checked and diagnosed by a physician who will treat the infection allowing the ear canal to heal.  Generally, a physician will prescribe medicated eardrops to stop the infection and may recommend easing pain with over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, or acetaminophen.

Leaving swimmer’s ear untreated can lead to complications such as temporary hearing loss, long-term infection (chronic otitis externa), deep tissue infection (cellulitis), bone and cartilage damage (necrotizing otitis externa), or a very rare instance of more widespread infection.