My son is going through a bout of swimmer's ear - his first time. From the intensity of his crying and from my friend's description of the pain as the worst type of ear pain she has ever experienced, I decided to learn a little more about how a person gets the infection and what will ease the pain - better yet, I looked for ways prevent it from happening again. Otitis externa (aka Swimmer's Ear) is an infection of the ear canal. The infection can be bacterial or fungal.
CAUSES: In the case of swimmers, the cause is excessive moisture in the ear canal which alters the acidic environment and weakens the barrier that normally protects the ear canal from infection.
The bacteria or fungi can also enter by a tear or break in the skin of the ear canal which leads to the infection.
Interesting Fact: You don't have to swim to get swimmer's ear. There are several other things that can cause irritation or a break in the skin of the ear canal:
- Vigorous ear cleaning
- Inserting objects into the ear canal (Q-Tips, for example)
- Certain hair dyes, bleaches, and shampoos
SYMPTOMS: When an ear becomes affected by swimmer's ear, there may be a tingling or itching sensation.
Other symptoms may include pain when:
- coughing, sneezing or burping
- pressing on the outer flap of the ear
- tugging on the earlobe
- chewing
SWIMMERS may experience pain or discomfort when doing flip-turns or entering the water from a block start (due to the pressure of the water and change in equilibrium)
TREATMENTS: Depending on the severity of your infection, your physician may use antibiotic eardrops, oral antibiotics, or a combination of an antibiotic (to combat the infection) and a steroid to keep swelling down. In addition, a pain reliever may be used to help with discomfort until the ear heals (most commonly 7-10 days).
PREVENTION: There are several things swimmers can do to prevent an infection:
- Use ear drying drops after swimming (Also helps keep the ear canal acidity in check) You can buy ear drying drops from most pharmacies. To mix your own use a half and half mixture of Isopropyl Alcohol and Distilled White Vinegar
- Wear a swim cap to reduce the amount of water entering the ear canal (swim caps aren't boring anymore...they come in a wide variety of designs allowing you to express your personality)
- Wear earplugs (there are several types available specifically for swimming)
- Use a Neoprene Ear Wrap
- Use an Ear-Dryer (Sahara Dry Ear)
If You Currently Have (or Suspect You Have) Swimmer's Ear:
Seek medical treatment for the infection. Conservative doctors will recommend staying out of the pool for 1-2 weeks. In comparison, some swimmers get right back in as long as the ear has been examined by a physician to rule out other problems and is currently being treated. Obviously, if there is pain from pressure, you might want to sit out for a few days while the antibiotic starts working. Earplugs or a swim cap will suffice to keep the ear from becoming waterlogged. In the event that water does get into the ear canal, use the ear-drying tips above. (The ear drop solution is preferable because the pH will need to remain balanced to prevent worsening and a new infection from occurring.
* Visit Swimoutlet.com for a wide selection of earplugs as well as other swim gear
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