PREVENT
Posted July 8, 2019
It's summer, and the Land of 10,000 Lakes is a great place to swim and play. As your family enjoys the pools and lakes, make sure you know the difference between swimmer's ear and a middle ear infection.
Swimmer's ear is an infection in the outer ear canal. It's often brought on by water in the ear canal that remains after swimming, creating a moist environment where bacteria can grow. While it can affect anyone, swimmer's ear is most common in children (because their ear canals are narrow) and during the summer months (because of the increased use of swimming pools and lakes). Swimmer's ear is not the same as a middle ear infection, which occurs behind the eardrum and is most often caused by a viral infection.
Symptoms of swimmer's ear and a middle ear infection may appear the same to those unfamiliar with the differences. Here are four guidelines to help you understand the symptoms and determine why type of infection your child may have.
Here is the infographic comparing swimmer's ear vs ear infection in an alternative format.
Since swimmer's ear is caused by germs that need water to survive, the best thing you can do to prevent an infection is to keep your ears dry. Learn more about the simple ways you can prevent painful swimmer's ear.
For relief of ear pain associated with swimmer's ear or a middle ear infection, it's OK to take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or Tylenol® (be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions for taking over-the-counter medication). A warm compress placed over the affected ear can also relieve the pain from swimmer's ear. You should consult with an expert to treat the cause of the infection.
Swimmer's ear can usually be treated in children and adults with an online visit, like Allina Health Everyday Online. This is especially convenient if symptoms start while you're away from home, after clinic hours or over the weekend, since most online clinics have 24-hour access. Whether you're seen online or in person your provider will likely prescribe antibiotic ear drops to treat swimmer's ear.
With a middle ear infection, it's best to have a provider examine your ear with an otoscope to look for signs of infection or blockages. For this reason you should be seen in person at urgent care, at a convenient care or walk-in clinic, or at your primary care clinic. If your provider believes that bacteria may have caused the infection, she'll prescribe an antibiotic. However, if a virus is causing the infection, an antibiotic won't help, and you'll have to treat the pain and wait for the infection to get better on its own.
Get treated quickly at a walk-in clinic or urgent care
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