Swimmer’s Ear

What is Swimmer's Ear?

Swimmer's ear (also known as Otitis Externa) is an infection in the outer ear anatomy. It is often brought on by exposure to water that stays in the ear, creating a moist environment that allows bacteria to grow. Swimmer’s ear can start out mild, but may worsen if the infection spreads or isn’t treated. You may be at greater risk for swimmer's ear if you have a history of ear infections or ear surgery.

Symptoms may include:

Itching of the ear canal
Rednes or swelling of the outer ear or in the ear canal
Mild discomfort that can be made worse by touching or pulling the outer ear
Drainage of clear, odorless fluid
A feeling of fullness inside the ear
Partial or complete blockage of the ear canal with swelling, fluid, and/or debris
Decreased or muffled hearing
Severe pain that might radiate to the face, neck, or side of the head
Swelling in the lymph nodes of the neck
Fever

UR Medicine's Treatments for Swimmer’s Ear

Evaluating Swimmer's Ear

Your provider may use a variety of tests to see if you have an infection of the outer ear and determine if that infection is impacting the middle ear or other areas. A physical examination where your provider looks in the ears is often the first step. If they notice drainage or discharge, they may have it sampled and sent to a lab for analysis. You may be referred for a hearing evaluation.

Treating Swimmer's Ear

The goal of treatment is to stop the infection and get the ear canal to heal.

Treatments may include:

Use of suction device or ear curette to clean away discharge, clumps of earwax, flaky skin, and other debris
Prescription eardrops
Use of over-the-counter pain relievers

While receiving treatment, do not:

Swim or scuba dive
Wear earplugs, hearing aids, or earbuds before pain and/or discharge stops
Get water in your ear while showering or bathing (We recommend using a cotton ball coated with petroleum jelly to protect your ear.)

What Sets Us Apart?

Our world-class audiologists, in association with field-leading doctors and surgeons at UR Medicine, provide patients with a complete range of services using the latest techniques and technologies.

Our ENT physicians are trained in non-surgical and surgical treatment of diseases of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck. They perform hundreds of procedures and surgeries every year, so your care is always in the hands of well-practiced experts.

In fact, as part of the University of Rochester Medical Center, our physicians are exposed to more complex conditions and unusual complications than most physicians in the Rochester metropolitan area and surrounding region. Many of our physicians are also involved in research to find new treatments for ENT-related conditions.

All our doctors are board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology.