Swimmer's ear

Probably there is no competitive swimmer or professional diver who once during her/his career didn’t experience infection of the ear canal! That’s why this condition is also frequently called a swimmer's ear. In other people, it is more likely to occur during the summer months, when people spend their time at lakes, seaside or at swimming pools. How to suspect that you might have a swimmer’s ear? If you have it and try to gently stick your finger in your ear, it is very likely that you will feel an unpleasant pain!

Swimmer's ear happens when bacteria grow on the skin in the ear canal. Bacteria get a chance to grow when water stays in the ear canal and it washes away the protective coating of earwax. A lot of swimming can wash away earwax protection and lead to these wet conditions in the ear canal.

Even if just small skin area is infected, ear pain may be very strong! You should not pick or scratch your ear because that can make infection worse! Do not even use a Q-tips! The best thing to do is to visit a doctor. If a doctor thinks you have swimmer's ear, she/he will probably prescribe eardrops that contain an antibiotic to kill the bacteria.

Most people will feel better even after a day or two of therapy. However, it is generally recommended to stay out of the water for the next couple of days.

SWIMMER’S EAR – TIPS & TRICKS:

• Ear pain may be similar from both the ear canal infection (swimmer’s ear) and the middle ear infection (otitis media); accurate diagnosis can only be established by otoscopy (examination of the ear)
• Preschool kids are more likely to develop otitis media, while swimmer’s ear is more common in teenagers and adults
• Otitis media usually follows nose or throat infection, while swimmer’s ear usually follows excessive swimming or ear cleaning (even with Q-tips!)
• Although pain may be similar from both ear infections, pain on pressing the ear canal is more typical for swimmer’s ear
• Swimmer's ear may start with itching or ear blockage
• In swimmer’s ear, usually there is no ear drainage
• Do not scratch or clean the ear with a Q-tip because this can worsen the infection and the pain
• Painkillers and eardrops that contain an antibiotic are usually a sufficient therapy. In most of cases, there is no need for per oral antibiotics 
• If you have suffered swimmer's ear, please stay out of the water for the next couple of days