More than 2 million trips are made to hospitals each year to treat swimmers ear.
What is swimmer’s ear?
Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is an infection in the outer ear canal. The outer ear canal runs from the eardrum to the outer ear and is the part of the ear that is responsible for carrying sound to the eardrum, so it’s pretty important! Fungi or bacteria trapped in water can travel down the outer canal and into the eardrum and this is what can cause the intense discomfort known as swimmers ear.
Anyone can get swimmer’s ear. All age groups are susceptible, but it is more commonly associated with children and teenagers.
What causes swimmer’s ear?
There are several causes of swimmer’s ear and it can be pretty painful for sufferers.
Swimming in untreated water such as lakes and ponds can increase the likelihood of contracting swimmer’s ear. Even those who haven’t put their heads underwater can have their ears become infected.
In fact, it isn’t just bacteria-laden water that can cause an infection, Inserting items like your fingertips, cotton swabs, or other objects into the ear can irritate the lining of the canal if the object is not sanitized – and result in infection that will produce the same pain as “swimmer’s ear”.
What are the symptoms of swimmer’s ear?
These symptoms can start off mild and worsen over time:
- Inflammation of the ear canal
- Itching inside the ear
- Drainage from the ear
- Swelling and redness
- Tenderness of the external ear
- Trouble hearing
- Pain in the ear canal when chewing
What can you do to prevent swimmer’s ear?
Before jumping into the water, it’s important to understand how you can keep year ears from becoming infected, resulting in swimmer’s ear.
Here are some methods of prevention:
- Dry your ears with a towel or soft cloth immediately after getting out of the water
- Avoid swimming in open, murky bodies of water
- Don’t insert any foreign objects in your ears, such as cotton swabs
- Wear a swim cap or earplugs when swimming
- Tip your head from side to side to drain excess water
- Administer a 2-ingredient mixture with a dropper before going into open bodies of water. The ingredients are:
1. 1/4 cup white vinegar
2. 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
A home remedy is to place a small crushed clove of raw organic garlic in sterile gauze and hold the garlic-filled gauze up to the ear with medical tape until the pain begins to dissipate.
Swimming is something that most of us love to do – especially when we can enjoy doing it in some of the natural waters around us. However, natural waters haven’t been treated for hygiene the way our pools are so we must be prepared to take measures to protect (or treat) ourselves when we subject our ears to the bacteria that can result from the time we spend in “natural” water.
Little Otter Swim School’s team members are passionate about teaching kids to swim and be safe as they enjoy the water. We’d love to share more of the benefits of learning to swim with you. Learn more about what makes Little Otter different.
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