Swimmer's Ear
What is Swimmer's Ear?
Swimmer's ear is an infection of the outer ear canal, caused
by water that becomes rapped in the ear canal. Although this
occurs most often in swimmers, anyone who gets water in their
ears can
develop swimmer's ear.
What Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms range from mild to moderate and include:
Causes of Swimmer's Ear
Swimmer's ear occurs when water becomes trapped in the ear canal,
and bacteria normally present begins to grow, causing infection
and irritation.
Diagnosing Swimmer's Ear
Your doctor will review your list of symptoms and perform a physical
exam to determine the cause of symptoms.
Treatment Options
Treatment will depend upon the severity of the infection and
whether or not the patient also has a perforated ear drum. Mild
infections can be successfully treated by carefully cleaning the
ear and the use of eardrops to inhibit the growth of bacteria.
More severe infections may require the use of antibiotics or
the placement of a wick within the ear canal to assist the antibiotics.
Follow up appointments will be important to monitor healing.
If you have or have ever had a perforated ear drum, it is important
to consult with your doctor for the appropriate treatment.
Prevention Tips
The best way to avoid infection is to safely keep your ears dry
after swimming or bathing. Avoid using cotton swabs,a s they may
push earwax deeper into the ear or irritate the protective thin
skin of the ear canal. Recommended way to dry your ears:
