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Swimmer's ear

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

Swimmer's ear is inflammation, irritation, or infection of the outer ear and ear canal. The medical term for swimmer's ear is otitis externa.

This article discusses acute swimmer's ear. See also: Swimmer's ear - chronic

Alternative Names:

Ear infection - outer ear - acute; Otitis externa - acute

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Swimmer's ear is fairly common, especially among teenagers and young adults.

Causes of swimmer's ear include:

• Swimming in polluted water
• Scratching the ear or inside the ear
• Object stuck in the ear

Trying to clean wax from the ear canal, especially with cotton swabs or small objects, can irritate or damage the skin.

Swimmer's ear is occasionally associated with middle ear infection (otitis media) or upper respiratory infections such as colds . Moisture in the ear makes the ear more prone to infection from water-loving bacteria such as pseudomonas. Other bacteria, and rarely, fungus, can also cause infection.

• Review Date: 6/22/2007
• Reviewed By: Cyrus Badshah, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Assistant Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & Medical Director, Chest (TB)Clinic and Directly Observed Therapy Program, Harlem Hospital Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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