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Swimmer's ear     See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Otitis externa - acute

Definition:

Swimmer's ear is an inflammation, irritation, or infection of the outer ear and ear canal.

Causes and Risks

Swimmer's ear (otitis externa) is fairly common, affecting mostly teenagers and young adults.  Swimming in polluted water is one way to contract swimmer's ear. It can also be caused by mechanical ear trauma from scratching or foreign objects in the ear. Attempts to clean wax from the ear canal, especially with cotton swabs or small objects, can irritate or damage the skin.

Swimmer's ear is occasionally associated with middle ear infection (otitis media) or upper respiratory infections such as colds.  Moisture in the ear predisposes the ear to infection from fungus or water-loving bacteria such as Pseudomonas species.

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