Otitis externa
Effective sprays for swimmer’s ear.
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Summary
Swimmer’s ear (also known as otitis externa) can be painful, itchy and affect your hearing. The right treatment can help it to clear up in days.
Talk to us about your health, and get advice from our clinicians. Order otitis externa treatment online for relief from the symptoms of swimmer’s ear.
Here’s what's included in the price:
Consultation
Answer a few questions about your health so we can get to know you better.
Free 24h delivery
Your treatment delivered in secure packaging, the very next day.
Aftercare
We’ll check in with you regularly to see how your treatment is going.
Otitis externa
What is otitis externa?
Otitis externa is an inflammation of the outer ear that’s often called swimmer’s ear because repeated exposure to water can leave your ear canal more vulnerable to infection. As a result, it’s more common in people who go swimming regularly, and it usually only affects one ear.
Who gets otitis externa?
Anyone can get otitis externa, but it’s more common in children and swimmers. It also tends to be more common in people who live in humid countries - due to higher levels of moisture in the air getting into your ear, and your sweat not evaporating as well.
It can happen to anyone though, and doesn’t always have to relate to swimming or getting water in your ear, despite the name swimmer’s ear. It can be caused by other things besides exposure to water.
Swimming in unclean water, injuring your ear, cleaning or scratching your ear, a dry ear canal, getting something stuck in your ear or having waxy ears can all cause otitis externa. Some skin conditions (like eczema) can make the chance of you developing otitis externa higher, as can things like headphones, swimming caps and hearing aids (especially if they’re not kept clean).
Practicing good hygiene and taking steps so that water isn’t sitting in your ear for long periods of time, especially water that might be dirty, can help you to avoid otitis externa. But there’s never a guarantee that you won’t get it, even if you take every care not to.
How common is otitis externa?
Otitis externa is pretty common - it’s estimated that around 10% of the world’s population will experience it at some point in their lives. It can happen the first time you go swimming, the tenth, or never. It may just depend on how much exposure to water you experience, any allergies you might have, the bacteria you’re exposed to or the irritants you come into contact with.
The more often you go swimming or wear things like earphones in your ears, the more likely you are to get otitis externa.
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on April 04, 2023. Next review due on April 05, 2025.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Otitis externa
What causes otitis externa?
Most cases of otitis externa are caused by a bacterial infection that affects your outer ear. Allergies and sensitivities, or exposure to trauma and irritants, can make otitis externa more likely to develop.
You can take steps to avoid getting otitis externa, but because of the range of causes and symptoms, this isn’t always possible. It’s a common infection and isn’t usually something to worry about, as long as you get the correct treatment and your condition doesn’t worsen.
What are the symptoms of otitis externa?
The symptoms of otitis externa can vary from person to person, particularly if it’s been caused by different factors. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- redness of the outer ear
- itchy or uncomfortable ears
- pain (especially when you touch, lean on or wiggle your earlobe)
- pus coming from your ear
- swelling in your ear canal
- swollen glands in your neck
- difficulty hearing (it might sound muffled or you might experience hearing loss)
- blocked or ‘full’ feeling in your ear
fever
As otitis externa can sometimes look like something else, it’s always a good idea to get a diagnosis from a clinician to make sure that it is swimmer’s ear that’s causing your symptoms and not anything more serious.
Can otitis externa lead to other problems?
If otitis externa is not monitored and treated there’s a chance it can become chronic. This usually means that it lasts for three months or more.
Sometimes the infection can spread to the skin, cartilage and bone around your ears, causing damage - but this is rare. When this happens it’s known as malignant otitis, which needs urgent medical treatment to avoid lasting damage.
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on April 04, 2023. Next review due on April 05, 2025.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Otitis externa
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on April 04, 2023. Next review due on April 05, 2025.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on April 04, 2023. Next review due on April 05, 2025.
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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
Reference Popover #ref1
Treated trusted source
Agius, A.M., Pickles, J.M. and Burch, K.L. (1992).
A prospective study of otitis externa. Clinical Otolaryngology and Allied Sciences, pp.150–154.
Reference Popover #ref2
Treated trusted source
Rosenfeld, R.M., et al., (2014).
Clinical Practice Guideline. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 150(1_suppl), pp.S1–S24.
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NICE. (2022).
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