Swimming is an essential part of summer. If you’re jumping in to stay cool this summer, it is important to ensure you get all of the water out of your ears after you dunk your head underwater. Moisture inside of the ear canal after a swim can cause a bacterial infection inside of the ear. Ear infection symptoms can be very painful, and often require treatment from a medical provider to clear up the infection. Keep reading to learn more about the causes and symptoms of ear infections.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of an ear infection, such as ear pain, you should seek medical care. At AFC Urgent Care Chestnut Hill, our board-certified medical providers are prepared to provide fast and accurate care for common conditions like ear infections. Simply walk into the clinic for rapid same-day care, or save your spot online in advance below.
Does Swimming Increase Your Risk of Developing an Ear Infection?
If you’re someone who enjoys spending time in the water, you need to be aware of the risks that water exposure in the ear canal can have. Swimming does directly increase your risk of developing an ear infection if you’re not careful to remove all of the moisture from your ear after a swim. In most cases, water drains naturally from the ear canal, however, you may notice the feeling of fullness in your ear canal after a swim, which can indicate that there is still water stuck inside of your ear. Failing to remove all of the water from inside of your ear canal will result in bacteria growing, and lead to an infection.
Common Ear Infection Symptoms
Ear infections can be incredibly painful. Symptoms typically appear a day after water has entered the ear canal, and symptoms can last over a week without proper treatment. Common ear infection symptoms include:
- Feeling of fullness inside of the ear
- Trouble hearing
- Pain in the ear
- Itching in and around the ear
- Discharge from the ear
- Fever
- Chills
- Body aches
Ear Infection Diagnosis and Treatment
Ear infections are incredibly common. Children typically are more likely to develop an ear infection than adults because their small ear canals can trap moisture more easily. However, adults commonly get ear infections after swimming due to water getting stuck inside of the ear.
If you suspect you have an ear infection, your medical provider will examine the inside of the ear to check for inflammation and other signs of an infection. They also will review any symptoms you may be experiencing. Treatment options typically include antibiotics, which are sometimes given in the form of ear drops to more directly target the infection. Most ear infections heal within a week with proper treatment.
Visit AFC Chestnut Hill for Same-Day Ear Infection Care
If you are experiencing symptoms of an ear infection, it is important to seek medical care so you can receive antibiotics and treat the infection. Delaying care may result in the infection worsening and your symptoms becoming worse or taking longer to heal. At AFC Urgent Care Chestnut Hill, our walk-in clinic offers same-day care for minor conditions like ear infections. Simply walk into the clinic, we are open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm.
Our clinic treats patients of all ages, and we never require you to schedule an appointment in advance. We work with most medical insurance plans, and we have competitive rates for self-paying patients. To learn more about our clinic, walk in for same-day care, or give us a call at (617) 582-2200.
