Swimmer’s ear treatment usually means prescription antibiotic ear drops, careful cleaning of the ear canal, and keeping the ear dry while it heals. Most cases clear up within a week to ten days once the right drops start. If you’re on the Northshore and the ear pain hit after a swim, a walk-in visit gets you examined and treated the same day, no appointment needed.
After a long Louisiana summer day at the lake, that itchy, plugged-up, sore ear is one of the most common reasons families head to urgent care. Here’s what swimmer’s ear actually is, how it’s treated, and when it’s worth getting it looked at right here in Covington.
What is swimmer’s ear and what causes it?
Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal, the tube that runs from the eardrum to the outside of your head. Doctors call it otitis externa. Water trapped in the canal after swimming washes away the protective earwax and leaves the skin damp, which is exactly the environment bacteria like to grow in. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, swimmer’s ear causes an estimated 2.4 million healthcare visits in the United States every year, and it peaks in the warm summer months when people are in the water most.
You don’t have to be a competitive swimmer to get it. Around here we see it after afternoons at Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville, day trips to Bogue Chitto State Park up near Franklinton, backyard pools, and even hot, humid days when sweat sits in the ear. Kids get it a lot because they spend hours in the water and have narrower ear canals that hold moisture.
What are the symptoms of swimmer’s ear?
The first sign is usually itching inside the ear, followed by pain that gets worse when you tug on the earlobe or push on the little bump in front of the ear. That tug test is a good home clue. Other common symptoms include:
- A feeling of fullness or like the ear is plugged
- Muffled or reduced hearing on that side
- Redness and swelling of the ear canal
- Clear, then thicker, drainage from the ear
- Pain that worsens at night or when chewing
If the pain becomes severe, the side of your face swells, you run a fever, or you notice the skin behind the ear getting red and tender, those are signs the infection may be spreading and you should be seen promptly.
How is swimmer’s ear treated?
Treatment starts with a provider looking in the ear with an otoscope to confirm it’s the outer canal and the eardrum is intact. From there, the standard approach is medicated ear drops, often an antibiotic combined with a steroid to bring down swelling. The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that for an uncomplicated case, topical drops placed directly in the canal work better than oral antibiotics and carry fewer side effects.
A few things that help the drops work:
- Gentle cleaning. If the canal is full of debris or drainage, clearing it lets the medication actually reach the infected skin.
- A wick, sometimes. If the canal is swollen nearly shut, a provider may place a small soft wick so the drops can travel all the way in.
- Keeping the ear dry. No swimming and no submerging the ear until it’s healed, usually seven to ten days.
- Pain control. Over-the-counter pain relievers usually handle the discomfort while the drops work.
Most people feel noticeably better within a couple of days of starting treatment. Finishing the full course of drops matters even after the pain fades, so the infection doesn’t come back.
Swimmer’s ear vs. a middle ear infection: what’s the difference?
People mix these up, but they’re treated differently, so it helps to know which is which. Swimmer’s ear sits in the outer canal and is tied to water and moisture. A middle ear infection sits behind the eardrum and usually follows a cold or congestion. The tug test is the quickest way to tell them apart at home.
Either way, a quick look in the ear settles it. You don’t have to diagnose it yourself.
Can urgent care treat swimmer’s ear?
Yes. Urgent care is a great fit for swimmer’s ear because it needs a same-day exam and a prescription, not a hospital. At Total Health Urgent Care in Covington, our team can look in the ear, clean the canal if needed, and start you on the right drops in a single walk-in visit. We treat eye and ear infections as part of our regular urgent care services, and we’re open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., so a Sunday-evening earache after a weekend at the lake is no problem.
If you’re searching for urgent care near me that’s open now on the Northshore, that’s exactly the gap a walk-in urgent care clinic fills. No appointment, on-site exam, and a clear self-pay price if you don’t have insurance: a standard office visit is $130, and if imaging is ever needed an X-ray is $75. You can call ahead at (985) 400-5370 with questions before you come in.
For a true medical emergency, such as sudden severe swelling, high fever with confusion, or signs the infection is spreading rapidly, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
How can you prevent swimmer’s ear?
A few simple habits cut your risk a lot, especially for kids who live in the water all summer:
- Dry your ears after swimming. Tilt your head each way and gently towel the outer ear.
- Use a hair dryer on the lowest setting, held well back, to dry the canal.
- Don’t put cotton swabs, fingers, or anything else in the ear, since that strips wax and scratches the skin.
- Try over-the-counter drying drops (a mix of alcohol and acetic acid) after swimming if you’re prone to it, unless you have ear tubes or a hole in the eardrum.
- Keep water out with well-fitted earplugs on heavy swim days.
If swimmer’s ear keeps coming back, it’s worth a visit to talk through what’s driving it.
Frequently asked questions about swimmer’s ear
How long does swimmer’s ear last with treatment?
With the right ear drops, most cases improve within a few days and fully clear in about seven to ten days. Pain usually eases first. Keep using the drops for the full course your provider recommends, even after you feel fine, so it doesn’t return.
Will swimmer’s ear go away on its own?
A very mild case sometimes settles once the ear dries out, but most swimmer’s ear infections need medicated drops to clear and to stop the pain. Waiting too long lets the infection worsen and spread, so it’s better to get it checked early.
Is swimmer’s ear contagious?
No. Swimmer’s ear is not passed from person to person. It comes from water and moisture in your own ear canal, not from someone else.
Do I need antibiotics by mouth for swimmer’s ear?
Usually not. For a standard outer-ear infection, antibiotic ear drops placed right in the canal work better than pills and cause fewer side effects, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Oral antibiotics are saved for cases that have spread beyond the canal.
Can I swim with swimmer’s ear?
It’s best to stay out of the water until the infection is fully healed, usually about a week to ten days. Swimming keeps the canal wet and slows healing, and submerging the ear can wash out the drops before they work.
When should I see a provider for an earache after swimming?
See someone if the pain is more than mild, if there’s drainage, if hearing drops, or if symptoms last more than a day or two. Same-day care matters because early treatment is simpler and more comfortable than waiting until the infection is severe.
Come see us for same-day ear care in Covington
You don’t have to wait days for an appointment to fix an earache. Total Health Urgent Care is at 73015 Hwy 25, Suite A in Covington, open seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., serving Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Abita Springs, Folsom, Franklinton, and the wider St. Tammany Parish Northshore. Walk in or call our Covington team at (985) 400-5370, and let’s get that ear feeling better.
This article was prepared by the Total Health Urgent Care team; the clinic was founded by Jennifer Duncan, APRN, MSN, FNP-C. It is for general information and is not a substitute for an in-person medical evaluation.
