Health Topics A-Z

What Are the Symptoms?

The symptoms of swimmer's ear include:

• Itching inside the ear.
• Watery discharge from the ear.
• Severe pain and tenderness in the ear, especially when moving your head or when gently pulling on your earlobe.
• A foul-smelling, yellowish discharge from the ear.
• Temporarily muffled hearing (caused by blockage of the ear canal).

Call Your Doctor If:

• You are experiencing any of the symptoms of an ear infection.
• You are experiencing dizziness or ringing in the ears (tinnitus); such symptoms may indicate a more serious problem that needs medical attention.
• You have severe pain; your doctor can provide medications to relieve it.
• You also notice a rash on your scalp or near your ear; you may have seborrheic dermatitis, for which your doctor can provide treatment.