Swimmer’s Ear (Otitis Externa) yesilhealth Medical Library December 10, 2021 Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, is an infection of the outer ear canal. It’s usually caused by water that stays in the ear and creates a moist environment that helps bacteria grow.Inserting fingers, cotton swabs, or other objects into the ears can also damage the thin layer of skin lining the ear canal, resulting in swimmer’s ear. Signs Common causes Departments & Emergency Diagnosis Treatment FAQ Signs / Symptoms What's common signs of swimmer's ear? OtalgiaHearing lossEar fullness or pressureRedness, puffiness, and narrowing of the external auditory canalTinnitusFever Itching Severe deep painPurulent and foul-smelling dischargeHistory of exposure to or activities in water (frequently) (e.g., swimming, surfing)History of preceding ear trauma (e.g., forceful ear cleaning, water in the ear canal) Common causes What's common causes of swimmer's ear? Swimmer’s ear is an infection usually caused by bacteria. It’s less common for a fungus or virus to cause swimmer’s ear. Departments & Emergency It is recommended to go to a General Practitioner or an Otolaryngology or Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology specialist in the near days. Diagnosis It is based on clinical assessment and physical examination. Examining ear canalLooking at eardrum (tympanic membrane)If infection doesn’t respond to treatment sampling of discharge Treatment Proper ear hygieneCleaning the ear canalTreating inflammation and infection with medicationsPain controlAntiseptics and acidifying solutionsKeeping ears dryAvoiding putting foreign objects into the ear FAQ Will the swimmer’s ear go away by itself?Often heal on their own or by taking ear drops. The best way is to keep ears as dry as possible.How long does a swimmer’s ear last?If it is treated with ear drops usually cured within 7 to 10 days. The pain should lessen within a few days of treatment. References:Charles PS Hui, Canadian Paediatric Society, Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee, Acute otitis externa, Paediatrics & Child Health, Volume 18, Issue 2, February 2013, Pages 96–98, https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/18.2.96 Schaefer, P., & Baugh, R. F. (2012). Acute otitis externa: an update. American family physician, 86(11), 1055–1061.Otitis externa: Practice essentials, background, anatomy. (2020, March 9). Diseases & Conditions – Medscape Reference. Retrieved May 1, 2021, from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/994550-overviewSwimmer’s ear – Symptoms and causes. (2019, June 28). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved May 1, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swimmers-ear/symptoms-causes/syc-20351682 Bowman, J. (2019, March 8). Outer ear infection (Swimmer’s ear). Healthline. Retrieved May 1, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/otitis-externaPatient education: External otitis (including swimmer’s ear) (Beyond the Basics). (2021, March). UpToDate. Retrieved May 1, 2021, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/external-otitis-including-swimmers-ear-beyond-the-basicsExternal otitis: Treatment. (2021, March). UpToDate. Retrieved May 1, 2021, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/external-otitis-treatmentSwimmer’s Ear (External Otitis). (2016, March). Nemours KidsHealth – the Web’s most visited site about children’s health. Retrieved May 1, 2021, from https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/swimmers-ear.html [INSERT_ELEMENTOR id="14481"] Discover more causes cure ear fullness ear pressure fever hearing loss hurt otalgia otitis externa signs swimmer's ear symptom