| Disease | Injury | Nutrition | Poison |
| Special Topic | Surgery | Symptoms | Test |
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| Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention |
Swimmer's ear - chronic |
| Definition: |
Swimmer's ear is an inflammation, irritation, or infection of the outer ear and ear canal. Swimmer's ear usually responds to treatment, but a small number of cases become chronic. This means the infection does not go away, or it comes back multiple times. See also swimmer's ear - acute. |
| Alternative Names: |
| Ear infection - outer ear - chronic; Otitis externa - chronic
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| Causes, incidence, and risk factors: |
Swimmer's ear (otitis externa) is fairly common. It consists of inflammation, irritation, or infection of the outer ear and ear canal. Swimming in polluted water is one way to contract swimmer's ear. Moisture predisposes the ear to infection from fungus or water-loving bacteria such as pseudomonas. Swimming is not the only cause, however -- the condition can be caused by scratching the ear or an object stuck in it. Chronic swimmer's ear may result from inadequate treatment, or may suggest the presence of a disease in underlying bone, a complication called malignant otitis externa. |
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. editorial. Previously reviewed by David N. Fisman, M.D., M.P.H., FRCP(C). Hamilton Department of Social and Public Health Services, and McMaster University Division of Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (9/8/2001).
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