Swimmer's Ear - Otitis Externa
Introduction
Anatomy
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Your doctor will remove the drainage and clean your ear in the office. You will receive prescription antibiotic eardrops, oral antibiotics, or both. You should protect your ear from water and avoid swimming, diving, or flying in aircraft until it heals.Prevention
Am I at Risk
Swimmer’s ear occurs most frequently in children and young adults, but it may develop in anyone.
Risk factors for swimmer’s ear:
_____ Swimming in contaminated or polluted water
_____ Living in a humid environment
_____ Use of hairspray and hair dye
_____ People with certain skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, allergies, or dermatitis
_____ Open or broken skin from scratching or foreign objects in the ear
_____ Wearing dirty earplugs or dirty hearing aids
_____ Ear wax buildup
_____ People with poorly controlled diabetes, especially older adults
Complications

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This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.
The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on February 16, 2022. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.
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