What should you know about sharp ear pain after swimming?

Water left in the ear canal can soften skin and make irritation more likely. Pain when the outer ear is touched or moved can occur with an outer-ear problem. Earwax buildup can trap water and create pressure or blocked hearing. A middle-ear infection, common cold, sinusitis, or tonsillitis can also cause ear pain around the same time, without swimming being the direct cause.

Tilt the head gently to let water drain and dry the outer ear with a towel. Keep swimming out of the painful ear until symptoms settle or a clinician advises otherwise. Do not use cotton buds, hairpins, or unapproved drops, especially if there may be a hole in the eardrum or fluid is coming out. Arrange assessment if pain continues, hearing is reduced, or discharge appears.

Get prompt medical care for severe pain, fever, swelling around or behind the ear, pus or blood, sudden hearing loss, severe dizziness, or facial weakness. Children who are very drowsy, difficult to settle, or not drinking need prompt assessment. A clinician can distinguish canal irritation from infection and decide whether antibiotic treatment is appropriate.

Explain whether pain worsens when the outer ear moves, whether water was trapped, and whether hearing changed. Ask if the canal or eardrum needs checking, whether wax removal is safe, and how to prevent recurrence during future swimming.