Swimmer’s Ear
The dog days of summer are here! Time to spend lots of hours keeping cool in the pool, or at the beach, or, if your one of the lucky ones, swimming off the back transom of your boat. It’s also the season of swimmer’s ear. The dreaded ear infection that can become a vacation dampener overnight. Most people associate swimmer’s ear as something that only happens to children after they’ve spent hours in the water, but that’s not always the case. Swimmer’s ear doesn’t discriminate and can affect both children and adults equally, even if you haven’t been in the water. So what is swimmer’s ear and what can you do about it?
What is swimmer’s ear?
Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the external part of your ear canal – so from your ear drum to the outside of your head. The medical term used is otitis externa. It’s usually caused by bacteria but occasionally it may be related to a fungal infection or a virus that sets in.
What are the symptoms of swimmer’s ear?
Each case of swimmer’s ear is classified as either mild, moderate, or severe depending on how far the infection has progressed and the symptoms you are feeling. Some symptoms you will experience are:
Itching in the ear canal
Redness and inflammation
Drainage of fluid, may be excess in more sever infections
Pain
Feeling of fluid or fullness in the ear
Hearing that is dulled or muffled
Fever
What causes swimmer’s ear?
Swimmer’s ear is caused by a bacterial infection in the ear canal. Water that remains in the ear canal creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Swimming or being submerged in water is not the only way to get an infection. People who live in humid environments are also susceptible to outer ear infections. Using anything in the ear that damages or scratches the skin can also make it easier for an infection to set in. Ear buds, hearing aids, and Q-tips can all cause small abrasions or breaks in the skin that can allow bacteria to grow.
How do you prevent swimmer’s ear?
Below is a list of things you can do to prevent swimmer’s ear from occurring
Dry your ears after swimming. Wipe any excess water gently with a towel and use a hair dryer, set on the lowest setting and held about a foot away, to dry the inside of the ear canal.
Use an ear drop. Only use an ear drop if you know you do not have a punctured ear drum. Otherwise the pain will be excruciating! You can buy a product called Auro-Dri to use after you’ve been in the water. It helps to dry up any excess water that’s hiding in your ear. You can also make an at-home solution of equal parts vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Place a few drops into the ear and then tilt your head to let it drain back out. This will help draw out any water that’s left over.
Wear ear plugs. Wearing ear plugs or a swim cap while in the water can help keep water out of the ear
Avoid putting anything in your ear. Don’t use any foreign objects to clean or scratch the inside of your ear canal. If earwax buildup is an issue, visit your doctor for a cleaning or use an over-the-counter product that breaks down earwax. Debrox is found at any pharmacy and is used to remove excess earwax from the inside of your ear.
Don’t swim in lakes or pools where bacteria are present. Do not swim in any pool that has not been properly treated and keep away from lakes with unknown bacteria counts if you are prone to ear infections.
Will swimmer’s ear go away by itself?
In general, the answer is no. Most cases of swimmer’s ear will not go away on its own and you’ll need to be seen by your healthcare provider for treatment. Sometimes, a very mild case may clear up by itself but waiting to see if an infection gets better or worse is often not a good idea – not to mention how uncomfortable you’ll be in the interim.
How do you treat swimmer’s ear?
Swimmer’s ear is diagnosed by your doctor and you’ll leave the office with a prescription for ear drops. The kind of ear drops prescribed will depend on the infection. Below are some ear drops you may be prescribed:
Antibiotic – most cases of swimmer’s ear are caused by bacteria so antibiotic ear drops are usually given
Steroid – If the inflammation and irritation is really bothersome, you may be prescribed an ear drop with steroids
Acetic acid – this will help to sterilize the ear canal
Antifungal – if the infection is caused by a fungal infection instead of bacteria
If the infection is severe or extends into other parts of the ear, your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics. You may take over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help with any pain. Hyland’s also makes an all natural ear drop to help with pain and discomfort. These drops are safe for children 2 and older but they are not to be used in place of any drops the doctor has prescribed. These drops will not treat the infection. You will still need to use an antibiotic drop.
How do I put ear drops in?
You’ve been to the doctor, they’ve diagnosed you with swimmer’s ear, and now you have to put in ear drops…Here are some tips for administering those drops.
Have someone else put them in for you if possible
Open and straighten the ear canal for easier administration before putting in the drops. For adults this means gently pulling the tip of the ear up and back. For children, pull the lobe down and back
Lie on your side with the infected ear up and put the drops in. Keep your head in this position for a minute or two to let the drops settle down into the ear canal
Gently pull the ear lobe up and down to allow the medication to coat the entire ear canal
If you are diagnosed with swimmer’s ear do your best to keep the ear as dry as possible until the infection has cleared up. This may mean no swimming for the next week or so and making sure to dry the ear well after you shower. Do not wear anything in the ear (ear buds, hearing aids) until any discharge and pain has stopped. Lastly, always use your antibiotic drops for the length of time your prescriber has told you to, even if you are feeling much better. This will ensure the infection is completely gone and you do not create a situation where resistant bacteria have now formed and more medication is needed.
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