The Signs and Symptoms of Swimmer's Ear

When the temperature starts to rise, there’s only one place you can go to escape the heat — the water! So it’s no surprise that swimmer’s ear — an infection of the inner ear canal, caused by excess water — is at an all time high in the summer. Keep yourself and your children safe this summer by knowing the warning signs of swimmer’s ear, and what you can do to prevent it.

Symptoms 
Swimmer’s ear is a very common infection, and the symptoms are typically mild at first.

• Itching deep in your ear.
• Your inner ear appears red. 
• Drainage of a clear, odorless liquid. 
• Feeling like your ears are clogged. 
• Muffled hearing. 

How to Protect Yourself 

Don’t let the fear of swimmer’s ear keep you from enjoying the water this summer. Instead, there are several things you can do to reduce your likelihood of getting swimmer’s ear.

• Dry your ears after swimming and bathing: For the best results, stand up and tilt your head to one side, allowing the water to drain from your ear. Then, dry the outside of your ears with a dry towel or cloth. 
• Don’t swim in contaminated water: If you have a pool, check its chemical levels frequently. If you know a body of water has a higher than normal bacteria count, don’t swim there. 
• Cover your ears: If you frequently get ear infections, wear earplugs while in the water. Plugs will prevent water from getting and staying in your ear canal. 
• Keep your ears clear of foreign objects: Despite its name, you can get swimmer’s ear without going in the water. Sticking things like cotton swabs and hairpins in your ear can irritate your inner ear canal and cause it to become infected.

 At Florida ENT, we are committed to helping patients who suffer from hearing loss and inner ear damage. Utilizing the latest advances in medicine and state-of-the-art techniques, our goal is to treat our patients with comfort and compassion. To learn more about the services we provide, please call us today at 407-944-3340 to schedule an appointment.