Water in the ear Living in Thailand is great for those of us who
enjoy swimming and water sportsBut the hot and tropical climate
doesn't mean that you are safe from "swimmer's ear syndrome" or
otitis. Swimmer's ear or otitis externa is an inflammation,
irritation or infection of the skin of the outer ear canal.
After swimming or showering, water remaining in the ear leaves
the ear canal moist, making it a good environment for bacterial
growth. Rubbing the ear with a finger or using cotton tips to
clean the ears lead to abrasions of the ear canal skin. Bacteria
then invade the skin and cause infection of the ear canal or
swimmer's ear. Swimming in polluted water and excessive cleaning
worsen the infection. Symptoms of swimmer's ear start with
itching and mild discomfort, then progress to pain, swelling and
redness in the ear, feeling of fullness or a blocked ear, fluid
(pus) drainage from the ear, lymph node swelling and fever. The
diagnosis is made by history, symptoms and ear examination.
Pain, redness or sw