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Swimmer’s Ear

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Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, is an inflammation of the ear canal anywhere from the outer portion (pinna) to the eardrum (tympanic membrane).

image of the ear

Symptoms

  • itching
  • drainage from the ear
  • pain that worsens with ear movement
  • difficulty hearing
  • swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck or face

Causes

The two major causes of swimmer’s ear are microorganisms (such as bacteria or fungi) and allergies or other skin problems.

Some things can make swimmer’s ear more likely, such as the use of hearing aids or headphones, damage from trying to clean the ear, and a history of contact allergies or other skin problems.

Treatment

  • Eardrops are frequently prescribed.
  • 400 mg ibuprofen may be taken every 4 hours for pain relief.
  • A clinician may insert a small strip of cotton into the ear to help the medication coat the inside of the ear canal.
  • Warm compresses, a hot water bottle, or a heating pad applied to the ear may promote healing as well as reduce discomfort.
  • Shielding the ear from the wind will decrease discomfort.

How to use eardrops

  1. Shake well and hold it to warm it up.
  2. Unscrew the bottle cap and draw some liquid into the dropper.
  3. Position the head so that the affected ear is up.
  4. Gently pull the earlobe outward, away from the head, and squeeze the correct number of drops into the ear.
  5. Keep ear facing upward for about five minutes to allow the medication to spread into the ear canal.
  6. Straighten head and wipe away any extra liquid with a cotton ball.
  7. Replace the dropper and screw the cap on securely.
  8. Store the eardrops in a cool, dark place.
  9. Use the drops for the full length of treatment. Stopping too soon might allow the infection to return.
  10. Avoid getting water in the ear until the course of medication is finished.

Prevention tips

  • Do not use cotton swabs such as Q-tips to dry or clean the ear canal.
  • Do not share headphones, earplugs, or any other device inserted into the ear. Clean before use.
  • If the infection is based on contact allergies, avoid those substances known to trigger swimmer’s ear.
  • In some cases, specific types of eardrops are used to dry the ear canal chemically to avoid recurrent infections. A clinician will prescribe these if necessary.

[HU418: updated 08/08]