Swimmer’s ear also recognised as otitis externa in the medicine world is the external ear infection. As the condition is more common among swimmers so it is named after it.

How swimming favours?

While swimming it is very difficult to restrict the flow of water within the external ear canal, even though caps and cover can help but doesn’t offer 100 % protection. And as the water makes a swift entry so does the infective agents; which survive and flourish quite well within these warm, moist and favourable conditions, leading to infections. The most common agent responsible is pseudomonas aeroginosa.

Further the condition should not be confused with otitis media, middle ear infection very frequently seen in children.

How a swimmer’s ear presents?

The following is the clinical picture put forth by the patient along with actively swimming or bathing sessions in recent history:

• Tender ear, even moving the head can trigger pain sensations
• Redness and itching is marked
• Pus discharge is also seen in advanced cases
• Fever, mild or high depending on the extent of infection

How to diagnose?

The detection is quite easy and very much traceable with the easy visibility of a few signs on the external ear surface itself. All discomfort with recent direct water exposure does indicate swimmer’s ear but a thorough otoscopic examination is integral to ensure the spread. It may be times when one just looks up on the external side whereas the infection has already rooted deep within the canal requiring adequate interventions.

What to do?

The first step to the treatment is to assess the involvement. The next involves keeping the canal as clean as possible, at the first visit the physician clears of the pus and debris and follows up in subsequent visits.

To control infection, oral antibiotics as well as locally used specific antibiotic ear drops are applied in conjunction. In case of severe involvement a sterilised strip saturated with antibiotics may have to be kept within the canal to control odds. Once the infection settles, the strip usually falls off on own. And then ear drops can be used the normal way slipped in the canal time to time as prescribed. Depending on the severity some pain medication may also be used, otherwise heat pads have shown tremendous efficacy to relieve these aches.

In most cases swimmer’s ear is not a very serious issue and when timely intervened can be treated well with no much consequent bothers. But in cases that have not be attended timely and have a long standing infection chances are for it to spread to the other related tissues, bone and even turn malignant.

How to prevent?

Here the primary measure is to minimise the entry of water while any water encounters. Wearing caps, ear plugs or only visiting hygienic pools where chances of infection are less can be a few measures to keep safe. Further never to use cotton plugs while swimming as these will soak the surrounding water and will let the canal in contact even for longer durations than normal.