Ask the Experts Blog

Nothing can put a bummer into summer like “swimmer’s ear.”

This common infection causes the outer ear and the ear canal to become itchy, red, swollen and painful. It often occurs in children and young adults after they’ve enjoyed a long swim, and have gotten water trapped in the ear canal.

“Once water becomes lodged in the ear canal, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria,” says Trever Portenga, PA, a physician’s assistant specializing in family medicine. “In a matter of days, the ear becomes infected and even bumping the ear can be quite painful.”

“Swimmer’s ear,” which is medically known as otitis externa, can also be caused when the ear canal is scratched by a finger, cotton swab or the in-ear headphones used with iPods or cell phones.

Symptoms of “swimmer’s ear” include:

• Pain or itching of the ear
• A feeling that the ear is stuffy or plugged
• Mild hearing loss
• Drainage of fluid from the affected ear

If you suspect that you or your child has this infection, make an appointment to see your doctor. After examining the ear, your doctor will thoroughly clean the ear canal and make sure the ear drum isn’t damaged.

“In most cases, your doctor will prescribe antibiotic ear drops that will clear up the infection in a week to ten days,” says Portenga. “Be sure to use the antibiotic drops for the full time period prescribed by your doctor, even if your symptoms subside. Stopping them too soon may cause the infection to return.”

You can relieve ear pain by covering the affected ear with a warm wash cloth. Over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) can also make your ear feel better while it heals.

“If you have ‘swimmer’s ear’ you may have to stay out of the water for awhile,” Portenga says. “But with proper care, you’ll be able to swim, dive and surf again in no time – enjoying the warm weather while it lasts." 

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