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Swimmer's ear (outer ear canal infection)
Also known as otitis externa, this is an infection of the outer ear canal.
Dr. Geoffreysss Rutledgeee reviewed this
41 years experience
Is a type of:
How long it usually lasts:
How common it is:
Baby 0-2 | Very common | ||||
Toddler 3-5 | Very common | ||||
Preteen 6-13 | Very common | ||||
Teenager 14-18 | Very common | ||||
Young adult 19-40 | Very common | ||||
Middle-aged adult 41-60 | Very common | ||||
Senior 60+ | Very common |
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Symptoms
Medications
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Other treatments
Related questions
A 56-year old female asked:
Had swimmers ear infection had neomycin drops, my ear outside of canal and lobe swollen and inflamed? My outside ear is very large compared to other
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 32-year old female asked:
Does the gook n ur ear from canal infection come out by itself?? In adults?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 44-year old asked:
Please help! What is the difference between swimmer's ear and ear infection?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 30-year old female asked:
Had a root canal 2 mos ago and still have residual infection. I was told abx are not needed. Could this cause my glands to be swollen and ear to hurt?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
A 47-year old asked:
Wondering what the best treatment is for a really painful swimmer ear infection?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 28-year old female asked:
Ice pick pain behind ears with canal swelling. Do I have an ear infection? Pain is intermittent. Persistant right canal swelling with burning.
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 47-year old asked:
I'm concerned because I have swollen submental gland (under chin gland) and right ear inner canal infection?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 27-year old female asked:
My ear feels very sore and canal feels swollen. I am hard of hearing. Could this be a start of an infection?!
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 22-year old asked:
What is the best over the counter medication for an ear infection/swimmers ear?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old female asked:
My 3 year old is on her 2nd set of PE tubes (T&A removed).Left tube is in the ear canal & is infectioned.Is it recommended/safe to replace this tube?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 29-year old female asked about a 52-year old female:
Tooth infection.on Rodogyl. 10days.root canal done.still pain. LNode by jaw swollen.bone by ear near temple hurts.do I need see a doctor not dentist?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old female asked:
My daughter has ear tubes. Her ear canal is red and she is playing with it. Is it an ear infection. ?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 29-year old female asked:
Getting over ear infection. Fluid gone. Feels like inflated balloon still in ear canal...finished zpak antibiotic?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 38-year old female asked:
How can you eliminate chronic fluid build up behind eardrum. What causes this in 6 year olds Not a swimmer, no sinus respiratory issues, ongoing since January Fluid won't go away,we have had 9 trips to pediatrician with either ear infection or just fluid
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 43-year old asked:
Will augmentin (amoxicillin and clavulanate) treat an ear infection or swimmers ear?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 44-year old asked:
What can you do to prevent "swimmer's ear"?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 33-year old asked:
Are neomycin drops effective for swimmer's ear?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
A 42-year old asked:
Can swimmers ear naturally heal?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 38-year old asked:
What can be done to cure my swimmers ear?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 30-year old asked:
Are there any home remedies for swimmers ear?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 34-year old asked:
Vigamox for swimmers ear?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 36-year old asked:
Vigamox for kids swimmers ear?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 33-year old asked:
What is the medical terminology for swimmers ear?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 36-year old asked:
Can there be a small bone behind that surrounds the ear canal?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 38-year old asked:
How long does it take for your hearing to come back with swimmers ear?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 39-year old asked:
Is it unusual to hear a rushing air sound in your ear when you have swimmers ear?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 38-year old asked:
Help please! Is ear canal irrigation the best way to clear up a plugged-up ear canal?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 21-year old female asked:
Bad ear pain. Nurse cleaned out wax. Doc said fluid behind drum and inf ear canal. How? I'm not sick. Ideas?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 47-year old asked:
Just had a lot of root canals done and my ears are ringing. Will the ringing stop after the trauma goes down?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 18-year old female asked:
I have a boil bigger than a pea in my ear not inside the canal but on the outter part in the middle should attempt to pop it?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
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