While the condition is called swimmer’s ear, you don’t need to swim to develop it.
Swimmer’s ear is another term for an infection in the ear canal.
Other environmental factors can contribute to swimmer’s ear, too.
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Severe problems from swimmer’s ear are rare.
While rare, swimmer’s ear can progress to surrounding bones, the brain, or skin.
Severe infections may require treatment by anear, nose, and throat specialist(ENT).
Antibiotic drops are typically the recommended treatment.
If you have symptoms of this condition, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
How Quickly Will Swimmer’s Ear Go Away?
With proper treatment, symptoms of swimmer’s ear generally improve in three days.
Treatment
Most uncomplicated cases of swimmer’s ear can be treated outpatient at your provider’s office.
Your healthcare provider will typically clean and examine theear canaland prescribe antibiotic ear drops.
Cleaning the Ear Canal
Before treatment begins, your healthcare provider may clean the ear canal.
It also allows your healthcare provider to confirm the site of infection.
Ear drops
Ear drops are typically prescribed for swimmer’s ear.
These products usually contain an antibiotic to kill the germs causing the infection.
They may also contain antiseptics,steroids, or a combination of these drugs.
This solution can be purchased over the counter or mixed at home.
Steroids
Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotic ear drops containing a steroid, such ashydrocortisoneor dexamethasone.
These medications can help reduce the symptoms of itching and inflammation that commonly occur with swimmer’s ear.
Antibiotics are usually administered topically via prescription ear drops.
This helps limit side effects and the risk of creatingantibiotic-resistant bacteria.
However, if your infection does not respond to ear drops, your healthcare provider may prescribe oral antibiotics.
Diagnosing a fungal infection may require a culture of your ear canal.
Antifungal medication may be administered via antifungal ear drops that contain clotrimazole.
Topical therapy that includes miconazole cream or fluconazole drops can also be effective.
Over-the-counter pain relievers such asTylenol (acetaminophen)orAdvil (ibuprofen)may provide relief of symptoms.
Your condition may require a different treatment to address other causes or complications.
At-Home Care
Usually, proper treatment for swimmer’s ear works quickly.
Sometimes, outer ear infections can become chronic, meaning they last for several months.
Chronic otitis externa is typically due to an underlying skin condition, such as a fungal infection.
Causes
Bacteria typically cause swimmer’s ear, but fungal infections are also possible.
You may need a different approach to treatment.
Early treatment can help avoid complications.
The prognosis is good for most cases of swimmer’s ear.
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