Swimmer’s ear develops after excess water has lodged itself inside a person’s ear canal. This usually happens to people after swimming in any body of water – whether it be an ocean, freshwater, or even a chlorinated pool. This water build-up inside the ear makes it easy for bacteria to grow, which induces a number painful and aggravating symptoms.
These symptoms include:

• Difficulty hearing
• Lingering pain in ear canal
• Itchiness inside of ear
• Bright red hue to inside of ear
• Discharge of liquid/pus
• Water blockage causing occasional faint popping noise

Often times, swimmer’s ear worsens as it causes much more debilitating symptoms. This may include the following:

• Swollen lymph nodes
• Pain expanding out to neck and back
• Fever

At AFC Urgent Care Methuen, we routinely see patients for swimmer’s ear all year-round. Seeing as it’s winter, we treat many local high schoolers who compete on their school’s swimming or diving team.
While the immune system will eventually fight off swimmer’s ear on its own, our center helps expedite the healing process by offering to treat it with either antibiotics, or cleaning out the ear canal with an acidic solution. For swimmer’s ear treatment, visit us any day of the week at AFC Urgent Care Methuen. For more information, feel free to call us at 978-975-0700.
We look forward to helping you feel 100% and getting you back in the water!