The painful experience of swimmer's ear is the cause of nearly 2.4 million health care visits each year. Earplugs can help prevent swimmer's ear and can usually be used while treating the infection. Always consult with your doctor before placing anything in the ear while you have swimmer's ear.
Identification
The symptoms of swimmer's ear can range from mild to severe. As the infection begins, your ear will usually itch and you'll experience discomfort that is made worse if you pull your earlobes. Wearing earplugs will be uncomfortable before treatment of swimmer's ear begins. Your ears may feel full, which can lead to muffled hearing. The lymph nodes around you ear may be swollen. The color inside your ear may look pink or very red. In more severe cases, a fever may be present.
Cause
The main cause of swimmer's ear is excess moisture remaining in the ear canal which promotes the growth of bacteria. You have a protective coating of earwax inside your ear canal that protects the delicate skin inside your ear as well as allows water to easily exit the ear canal. If water stays in the ear, it washes away the protective earwax, increasing your risk of swimmer's ear. Small cuts inside the ear canal can also allow bacteria to infect your ear, resulting in swimmer's ear.
Treatment
Keep moisture out of your ear while being treated for swimmer's ear. Your doctor may recommend you avoid swimming for seven to 10 days while the infection heals. You can wear earplugs in the shower or bath to avoid getting water in your ear during treatment. To treat swimmer's ear, your doctor will clean your ear canal and prescribe ear drops that contain a combination of an acidic solution, steroid, antibiotic and possibly antifungal medication. A cotton ball coated with petroleum jelly can be used as an alternative to earplugs to keep water out of your ear during showers and baths.
Prevention
Earplugs and swimming caps help prevent swimmer's ear from returning; these devices minimize the amount of water that gets in the ear canal. Once you're out of the water, towel dry your ears and tip your head to the side to allow any excess water to drain from your ear canal. You can place a hair dryer several inches away from your ear as long as you use the lowest heat setting. Never put cotton swabs, your fingers or other types of objects not intended for ears inside the ear canal. A 50:50 mixture of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol can be used to help dry the ear canal after swimming; however, this solution cannot be used if you have ear tubes, damaged ear drums or an ear infection.
