What is Swimmer’s Ear?
Swimmer’s ear is an inflammation of the ear canal and eventually an earlap, occurring in people who often have wet ears. It occurs mostly in children and teenagers who spend a lot of time in water, but also in persons who sweat a lot or have skin diseases.
Picture 1. Swimmer’s ear commonly occurs in children
Symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear
Common symptoms are (1):
- ear itching
- pain, especially when pressing on ear ‘tag’ or pulling the ear-pad, or during chewing
- feeling of fullness in the ear
- decreased hearing, noises in the ear
- ear canal and ear-pad swelling, redness, and skin scalding
- pus draining from the ear canal
- swelling of lymph nodes around the ear
Usually only one ear is involved.
In severe cases with fever, dizziness, or general headache, doctor should be visited promptly.
