How Can I Avoid Swimmer's Ear?
Swimmer's ear is an infection of the ear canal that can plague water lovers and anyone else who sweats, showers or simply lives in a humid climate.
Nearly 1 in 10 people will experience a bout of this infection in their lifetime. Summer, unsurprisingly, is prime time for swimmer's ear. Both children and adults can get swimmer's ear — and those who are immunocompromised, have diabetes or other underlying conditions are at greater risk of both getting it and having complications.
Not to be confused with the annoying sensation of trapped water in your ear, acute swimmer's ear will get your attention quickly. 'It's exquisitely painful,' said Dr. Sapna Singh, a pediatrician and chief medical officer at Texas Children's Pediatrics in Houston. 'I've seen teenagers come in in tears.' The ear canal can become itchy and swollen and may leak fluid or a smelly discharge.
The good news: With prescription ear drops, most people start to feel better within a few days. Still, doctors recommend keeping water out of your ear canal for a week or more, depending on how severe the infection is.
If not treated, complications can ensue, including chronic swimmer's ear and, in rarer cases, an infection that spreads beyond the ear canal.
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