Are you experiencing ear pain? Ear pain in the summer often points to an inner ear infection called swimmer’s ear. While there are many different potential causes of an ear infection, water exposure to the ear canal in the summer is a common culprit. Water can easily become trapped in the ear after jumping in the water or a quick swim. This water sitting inside of the ear canal can lead to bacterial growth, which is ultimately responsible for the unpleasant symptoms of swimmer's ear, like ear pain, headaches, and sometimes a fever.
Keep reading to learn more about common symptoms associated with swimmer’s ear so you know when to seek medical care for your symptoms. At AFC Edgewater, our walk-in urgent care clinic offers same-day ear infection diagnosis and treatment all summer long. We’re open 7 days a week on a walk-in basis. Simply walk into the clinic for same-day care, or save your spot online in advance using the button below.
How Does Swimmer’s Ear Happen?
Swimmer’s ear is a nickname for a common kind of ear infection that is primarily caused by water getting stuck inside of the ear. It commonly occurs in individuals who swim competitively and are jumping in and out of the water very frequently. However, it can also occur from a swim in the pool or ocean if you dunk your head underwater and don’t get all of the water out of your ear canal. After the water enters the ear, it sits and begins developing bacteria, which causes a raging infection to form deep within your ear canal.
Can Swimmer’s Ear Cause a Fever?
Swimmer’s ear primarily impacts the ear canal directly, and can lead to symptoms like pain in the ear, itching in and around the ear, trouble balancing, headaches, and fluid draining from the ear. In severe cases, swimmer’s ear can also lead to a fever and symptoms like body aches and chills. Symptoms usually appear 1-2 days after water enters the ear canal, and can last over a week without proper care.
Treatment Options for Cases of Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s ear is caused by bacteria growing in the ear canal. Because of this, it often requires antibiotics to clear up the infection. However, your medical provider will be able to evaluate your ear canal and determine the best course of treatment. In most cases, antibiotics are administered via prescription ear drops. However, at-home care like ibuprofen can help patients stay comfortable while they heal.
Walk Into AFC Edgewater for Same-Day Ear Infection Diagnosis & Treatment
If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort in your ear after swimming, you may have swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear can cause severe symptoms like a fever when left untreated. At AFC Edgewater, our walk-in clinic makes it easy to receive prompt diagnosis and treatment for minor conditions like ear infections.
Our board-certified medical staff is available 7 days a week to provide rapid same-day care to patients in Edgewater, MD, and the surrounding communities. Simply walk in when it’s convenient. We work with most medical insurance plans and offer affordable rates for self-paying patients. To learn more, walk into the clinic for care or give us a call to speak with a member of our team at (410) 956-3394.
