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Don't Suffer With Swimmer's Ear This Summer, Get Treatment Without Leaving Home
Whether you're surfing on Oʻahu, swimming in Maui, or relaxing on the shores of Kauaʻi, water activities are a primary part of island life. However, frequent swimming can sometimes lead to an uncomfortable condition known as swimmer's ear.
OhanaMed Virtual Urgent Care, led by Kyle Nefzger, APRN, FNP-C, provides dedicated telehealth services to patients four and older throughout Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, and Hawaii. You don't have to spend your day waiting in a clinic line. We bring expert medical care directly to your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Understanding swimmer's ear and its causes
Swimmer's ear, medically known as otitis externa, is an infection of the outer ear canal that runs from your eardrum to the outside of your head. It often happens when water remains in your ear canal after swimming, creating a moist environment that favors bacterial growth. Swimmer's ear results in an estimated 2.4 million healthcare visits each year in the United States.
You can also develop this condition if you damage the thin layer of skin lining your ear canal. This damage can occur when you use cotton swabs, fingers, or other objects to clean your ears. Irritated skin makes it easier for bacteria to enter the tissue. Individuals with chronic skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis are more prone to developing outer ear infections.
Symptoms you shouldn't ignore
Identifying the early signs of swimmer's ear helps prevent the infection from worsening. Initially, you might only notice mild itching in your ear canal or slight redness inside the ear. As the infection progresses without treatment, the symptoms usually become much more uncomfortable and harder to ignore.
Other common symptoms include:
- Mild to severe pain that gets worse when you pull on your outer ear
- Anitchy sensation deep inside the ear canal
- Clear, odorless fluid or pus draining from the ear
- A feeling of fullness or blockage inside your ear
- Temporary muffled hearing due to swelling and fluid buildup
- Redness and swelling around the opening of your ear canal
If you develop a fever or notice the redness spreading to your outer ear, the infection is advancing, and you should seek medical evaluation promptly.
How virtual care treats your ear infection safely
Our experienced telehealth team uses comprehensive medical screenings and targeted questions to assess your symptoms accurately. We review your medical history, your recent water exposure, the specific location of your pain, and any drainage you see. This virtual assessment helps us confirm a diagnosis of swimmer's ear without an in-person visit.
Once we diagnose your condition, we electronically send the necessary prescriptions to your local pharmacy across the Hawaiian Islands. The standard treatment for an uncomplicated outer ear infection involves prescription antibiotic ear drops that target the bacteria directly, reduce inflammation, and ease your pain within a few days.
While you recover, we recommend keeping your ears completely dry. Avoid swimming, surfing, and letting water enter your ears during showers for at least seven to ten days. These precautions protect the healing tissue and help prevent the infection from returning immediately.
Get prompt relief from your swimmer’s ear. Book a same-day telehealth appointment with OhanaMed Virtual Urgent Care. Call us at 808-468-5779 or request an appointment online.