Swimmer's ear is found more often in people who aren't swimmers. Anyone who is outside in the wind and rain can get swimmer's ear. Farmers can experience the problem often being exposed to the elements for a long time. Identifying swimmer's ear Swimmer's ear is the inflammation of the canal joining the eardrum to the external ear.
Treatment and prevention Swimmer's ear is usually treated with antibiotics, either in the form of pills or ear drops. Last reviewed:. June Family Medicine Physician. Interested in using our health content? A cotton swab is placed gently in your ear canal to get a sample. The sample is sent to a lab to find out what is causing the ear infection. Your provider will give you instructions on how to use ear drops. Follow the instructions to be sure you get the right dose of medicine.
Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes swimmer's ear? Other possible causes include: Being in warm, humid places Cleaning or scratching your ear canal using your fingers, cotton swabs, or other objects Having an injury to the ear canal Having dry ear canal skin Having an object in the ear canal Having extra ear wax Who is at risk for swimmer's ear?
You are at greater risk for swimmer's ear if you: Have contact with germs in hot tubs or unclean pool water Have a cut in the skin of your ear canal Hurt your ear canal by putting cotton swabs, fingers, or other objects inside your ears Use head phones, hearing aids, or swimming caps Have a skin condition such as eczema What are the symptoms of swimmer's ear? The following are the most common symptoms of swimmer's ear: Redness of the outer ear An itch in the ear Pain, often when touching or wiggling your earlobe Pus draining from your ear.
This may be yellow or yellow-green, and it may smell. Swollen glands in your neck Swollen ear canal Muffled hearing or hearing loss A full or plugged-up feeling in the ear Fever The symptoms of swimmer's ear may look like other health problems. How is swimmer's ear diagnosed? How is swimmer's ear treated?
Treatment may include: Taking ear drops to kill bacteria antibiotic ear drops Taking ear drops to help reduce swelling corticosteroid ear drops Taking pain medicine Keeping the ear dry, as directed by your provider Your provider will give you instructions on how to use ear drops. What are the complications of swimmer's ear?
If left untreated, swimmer's ear may cause other problems such as: Hearing loss from a swollen and inflamed ear canal. Hearing usually returns to normal when the infection clears up. Ear infections that keep coming back Bone and cartilage damage Infection spreading to nearby tissue, the skull, brain, or the nerves that start directly in the brain cranial nerves What can I do to prevent swimmer's ear? To help prevent swimmer's ear, try the following: Keep your ears as dry as possible.
Use ear plugs when you are swimming or showering. Avoid getting water in the ear until the problem clears up. Use cotton lightly coated with petroleum jelly as an earplug. Do not use plastic earplugs. Use a hair dryer set on low to carefully dry the ear after you shower.
To ease ear pain, hold a warm face cloth against your ear. Take pain medicines exactly as directed. If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed. If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine. Inserting ear drops Warm the drops to body temperature by rolling the container in your hands.
Or you can place it in a cup of warm water for a few minutes. Lie down, with your ear facing up. Place drops inside the ear. Follow your doctor's instructions or the directions on the label for how many drops to use. Gently wiggle the outer ear or pull the ear up and back to help the drops get into the ear.
It's important to keep the liquid in the ear canal for 3 to 5 minutes. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if: You have a new or higher fever.
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