Swimmer’s ear develops in people after excess water enters the ear canal. While swimmer’s ear is considered an infection, it’s different from a typical ear infection, seeing as ear infections occur in people after they’ve been exposed to a harmful bacteria. Swimmer’s ear is found in the outer ear canal, which induces a number of different aggravating and painful symptoms.
Swimmer’s ear symptoms include:
- Lingering pain aggravated by moving it
- Itchy red area around the infection
- Pus discharge
- Blockage in ear, making it difficult to hear out of infected ear
Sometimes, symptoms worsen and may include:
- Fever
- Pain spreads beyond ear to neck and head
- Swollen lymph nodes
It’s also possible to develop swimmer’s ear in a chlorinated pool – not just lakes, ponds and other outdoor bodies of water. At AFC Doctors Express Urgent Care Southcenter, we frequently see high school athletes who compete in swimming or diving seeking swimmer’s ear treatment.
We typically prescribe our patients antibiotics to treat their swimmer’s ear. However, in some cases, our board-certified physicians may simply decide to wash out the patient’s ear, and let the immune system defeat the infection. This may involve the use of an acidic solution to expedite the healing process.
For swimmer’s ear treatment, visit us at AFC Doctors Express Urgent Care Southcenter any day of the week – no appointment necessary. To speak with one of our staff members, call us at 425.291.3300. We look forward to treating your swimmer’s ear and get you back to feeling 100%!