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Swimmer's ear - Treatment

Alternative Names

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

Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection. Medicines may include:

Ear drops containing antibiotics
Corticosteroids to reduce itching and inflammation

The ear canal should be cleaned of drainage. This allows the medicines to work better.

Four or five ear drops should be used at a time, so that the medicine can get into the end of the ear canal. If the ear canal is very swollen, a wick may be applied in the ear to allow the drops to travel to the end of the canal.

Analgesics may be used if the pain is severe. Placing something warm against the ears may reduce pain.

Expectations (prognosis):

Swimmer's ear responds well to treatment, but complications may occur if it is not treated. Some individuals with underlying medical problems, such as diabetes, may be more likely to get complications such as malignant otitis externa.

Complications:

Chronic otitis externa
Malignant otitis externa
Spread of infection to other areas of the body

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:

You develop any symptoms of swimmer's ear
The symptoms worsen or continue, even with treatment
New symptoms appear, including pain and redness of the skull behind the ear or persistent fever

Ear anatomy

Medical findings based on ear anatomy

Swimmer's ear

Reviewed last on: 11/10/2008
Linda Vorvick, MD, Family Physician, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Pier GB. Pseudomonas and related gram-negative bacillary infections. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 328.

Haddad J. External otitis (otitis externa). In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 638.

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