Summertime Swimmer’s Ear: Tips for Prevention

Victoria Gestner works with Midwest ENT Consultants, who are ear, nose and throat doctors with offices in various locations, including Plainfield. She wrote this in conjunction with Dr. James Chow, a physician with Midwest ENT Consultants.

There’s nothing better than jumping into a pool or lake on a hot, summer day. What you may not know, however, is that submerging in water (especially polluted water) can cause swimmer’s ear, an infection of the outer ear canal.

Dr. James Chow of Midwest ENT Consultants, a practice with four locations in Chicago’s western suburbs, says people who swim often – especially in lakes where the water has not been treated – are more vulnerable to getting swimmer’s ear.  

Swimmer’s ear is caused by excessive moisture in the canal, which serves as a good environment for bacteria growth. It can also be caused by trauma to the external auditory canal through use of Q-tips, hair pins, etc., creating an entry point for bacteria to start the infection.

Other factors that make individuals more susceptible to the infection include failing to remove water that gets stuck inside the ear after swimming, sticking things into your ears, perspiration, humid or dusty environments, diabetes and an allergy to jewelry, such as nickel.

“Some common symptoms of swimmer’s ear include itching, ear pain, redness of the ear, blockage or decreased hearing, or drainage from the ear,” Chow says. “Swimmer's ear is usually treated with ear drops and occasionally antibiotics are needed, especially if the infection has spread to surrounding tissue.”

Here are some of Chow’s simple tips for preventing swimmer’s ear as you head out to the beach, lake, river or pool:

• Avoid putting anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.
• Be sure to get all of the water out of your ears after swimming by tilting your head over.
• Use ear drops. Create a mixture of alcohol and vinegar (half and half), and drop the mixture into your ear after swimming. This will help to dry out the ear and sterilize the ear canal.

About James Chow, MD

Dr. James Chow joined Midwest ENT Consultants in 2005. He has devoted his professional life to finding relief for sinus sufferers and is well founded in the fundamentals of sinus anatomy, physiology, and surgery. Remaining true to his commitment to address a multitude of intricate and complex ear, nose and throat problems, and to ensure that his patients receive the best possible level of care and service, Dr. Chow has continually received additional training and certification in the areas of Otolaryngology. From medical school to the present, he has continued the pursuit of excellence in sinus care with an emphasis on nasal and sinus disease.