Symptoms

• Early symptoms of swimmer's ear include itchiness between the outer ear and the eardrum. Additionally, the skin at the entrance to the ear may turn red and become tender to the touch. You may notice a slight ear discharge during waking hours, or a stain on your pillow on awakening. These symptoms can worsen. The ear may drain pus-like discharge, or you may also experience intensified pain and diminished hearing caused by ear canal inflammation. Unlike outer ear infections, swimmer's ear does not cause persistent headaches.
  
  

Causes

• Ear wax forms a protective, slightly acidic layer inside the ear. This keeps the ear clean and the skin bacteria-free. If water gets trapped inside the outer ear canal, it dilutes the ear wax. If the pocket of water isn't promptly released it will wash away the protective layer of ear wax, allowing water-borne bacteria to attack the delicate skin lining the inner ear, causing infection.
  
  

Prevention

• Keep water out of your ears while swimming by wearing a latex swim cap that covers the ears, or by using latex or rubber ear plugs. If water does get trapped in the ear, tilt your head to one side with the affected ear uppermost and ask a friend to put two drops of rubbing alcohol in the ear. Hold your position for 20 seconds. Turn your head the other way to drain the water. Rubbing alcohol dissolves water surface tension, allowing the water to drain past the air bubble holding it in place.
  
  

Treatment

• The doctor will clean you inner ear with a suction device to clear it of solidified wax, dirt and dead skin. He will probably give you some specialized acidic ear drops containing steroids, anti-fungal medication and an antibiotic. He may also insert a wick to help drain off any discharge while the ear is healing.
  
  

Follow-Up

• Don't get in the water while you're under the doctor's care. When you resume swimming, water skiing or scuba diving, avoid polluted water. Dry your ears thoroughly after indulging in water sports, and release any trapped water immediately. Don't clean your ears out or scratch them with foreign objects, such as paper clips, hair clips or cotton buds; you could damage the delicate layer of skin lining your inner ear. Protect your ears with cotton balls when using hair spray or dying your hair.