We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Swimmer's Ear?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: Feb 04, 2024
Views: 18,643
Share

Swimmer's ear is an infection of the outer ear, which can sometime evolve into middle ear (otitis media) infections. Typically when the condition is present alone it is called otitis externa because it involves infection of the outer part of the ear canal, and can even cause irritation of the skin on the external or visible part of the ear. While some people may only notice pain, usually in a single ear, others may have red, irritated or itching skin on the outside of the ear.

Generally, the ear is resistant to infections when liquid, like water, is introduced to it. Most of the water simply rolls out of the ear, though people may go through a few minutes to a couple of hours of feeling like the ear is plugged with water. In some cases, especially when a lot of water has been introduced into the ear through activities like swimming, the moisture from this additional water can cause bacteria or fungi to grow. Hence the term swimmer's ear is used to describe the condition, even though you don’t always get it from swimming.

Symptoms of swimmer's ear can include minor to extreme pain. In particular, you might notice if you touch or move the ear that it really hurts. Your outer ear may itch or appear red, and you may feel like the ear is full of water. Some people experience difficulty hearing out of the affected ear, and others may notice a small amount of pus draining from the ear.

Many people may never get swimmer's ear, which can be caused by a number of different factors. Again, it isn’t always related to swimming, but when it is, one of two conditions may be present. The water you swim in can be contaminated with bacteria, which can create the condition, or in other cases, simply too much exposure to water in the ears brings on the infection. Children are particularly prone to swimmer’s ear, and people with conditions like eczema may also be more likely to get the condition. If you have a lot of waxy buildup in your ears this can trap moisture, making bacterial infection more likely.

Another type of otitis externa is unrelated to swimming. If you clean your ear with cotton tipped sticks, part of the cotton can break off and create swimmer's ear. You should never clean anything but the exterior of the ear with things like Q-tips® in any case. Severe damage to the eardrum can occur if you insert small objects in the ear.

Swimmer’s ear is usually diagnosed by examination with an otoscope. Some doctors may take cultures of the ear to confirm infection, but in most cases this is not done. For simple otitis externa, medicated drops are usually prescribed, which help resolve the condition in a few days to a few weeks. If the middle ear has become infected, a doctor may also prescribe oral antibiotics.

It’s better to prevent swimmer’s ear than to have to suffer the pain of the condition and to pay for treatment. You can buy earplugs designed to keep water from getting into the ears during extensive swimming. You should also practice wax removal cleaning if you have a lot of earwax build-up. After swimming or taking a bath, dry the ear’s exterior, but don’t use Q-tips® to dry the interior of the ear. Some people prefer to use alcohol-based drops like Swim-Ear&reg:, which can help create greater evaporation of any water trapped in the ear.

If you do get chronic ear infections, it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor about other prevention strategies. Further if you note the signs of swimmer’s ear, especially if this is the first time it has occurred, see a doctor for diagnosis. Some people get the condition fairly regularly and always have drops on hand should the condition develop. Others only get the condition on rare occasions, and a few lucky people never get it. In any case, unless you are chronically affected by these infections, do see a doctor for correct diagnosis if the above symptoms develop, even if you haven’t been swimming.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By FirstViolin — On Sep 25, 2010

One thing that I've always found to be a good home treatment for swimmer's ear is a few drops of tea tree oil and olive oil. You can just mix equal amounts together, and put it in the ear a few times a day.

It feels nicer when you heat it up, but you can also just put it in your ears cold. If you do heat it up though, make sure it's not too hot -- you don't want to burn your ear!

Also, after you put it in your ears, make sure to put some cotton balls in your ears to keep the liquid from coming out.

By galen84basc — On Sep 25, 2010

Does anybody know if fluid in the ear could cause an ear infection leading to hearing loss? I have a friend who swims a lot, but she never uses ear blocks, and now she's having trouble with her hearing -- she's only 23, so it's unlikely to be age-related.

Is this likely, or even possible? She's going to an ENT next month, but we're just trying to find as much information as we can before her appointment.

Can anybody tell me more information about this? And if so what would be the treatment for an ear infection in adults that leads to hearing loss?

By pleats — On Sep 25, 2010

Ooh -- I never knew that fluid in the ears could lead to fungi in your ear! That makes an already unpleasant condition even grosser to think about. I am definitely going to stock up on some swimmer's ear drops before I go swimming again.

By overreactor — On Jun 29, 2008

It is much easier to prevent swimmer's ear then to treat it. After swimming try to remove any trapped water by shaking your head. Also drying the ear after swimming might control the problem. Those who swim regularly might want to use ear drops prescribed by a doctor. The drops change the alkali and/or acid level in the ear.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wise-geek.com/what-is-swimmers-ear.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.