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Conditions›ENT diseases›Ear disorders›Ear infection›Swimmer's ear (outer ear canal infection)

Swimmer's ear (outer ear canal infection)

Also known as otitis externa, this is an infection of the outer ear canal.

Dr. Geoffrey Rutledgereviewed this

Internal Medicine 39 years experience

Is a type of:Ear infection

How long it usually lasts:

Short-term (lasts days to weeks)

How common is it?

Very common

Very common	Extremely rare	Very rare	Rare	Common	Very common
Baby0-2					Very common
Preteen6-13					Very common
Teenager14-18					Very common
Young adult19-40					Very common
Middle-aged adult41-60					Very common

Body locations

Ear

Medications

Ratings show how effective doctors think these medications are at treating Swimmer's ear (outer ear canal infection)

Procedures

Ratings show how effective doctors think these procedures are at treating Swimmer's ear (outer ear canal infection)

Surgery

Other treatments

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Related questions

A 22-year-old female asked:

Can you get a fever from a swimmer's ear infection.?

1 doctor answer2 doctors weighed in

A 22-year-old female asked:

What's the signs of an ear infection and will you get a fever from swimmer's ear?

1 doctor answer10 doctors weighed in

A 24-year-old female asked:

What are the signs of swimmers ear infection or Ottis media and does the ear infection make you feel tired ?

1 doctor answer1 doctor weighed in

A 29-year-old male asked:

My ears get blocked as soon as any water enters the canal whenever I shower and that tends to block my hearing. It causes infection as the fluid does not drain, what would I need to do in this instance?

1 doctor answer2 doctors weighed in

A 35-year-old member asked:

Do I have a ear infection if I have swimmers' ear?

1 doctor answer8 doctors weighed in

A 35-year-old member asked:

I have external ear infections/swimmers ear?

1 doctor answer1 doctor weighed in

A 50-year-old male asked:

Can ear canals swell due to infection or a fungal ear?

1 doctor answer4 doctors weighed in

A 24-year-old female asked:

Can a swimmers ear infection cause you to feel tired?

1 doctor answer2 doctors weighed in

A 34-year-old member asked:

How do I know if I have an ear infection or swimmers ear?

1 doctor answer2 doctors weighed in

A 39-year-old member asked:

How should I treat an ear canal infection (otitis externa)?

1 doctor answer2 doctors weighed in

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