Summer otitis
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The swimmer’s ear is one of the many names we use to describe summer otitis externa or otherwise known as infections of the outer ear canal that extends from the pinna to the eardrum. This infection is sometimes caused by a fungus, but most of the times – especially when the pain is strong – it is caused by common pathogenic bacteria (staphylococcus, pseudomonas).


Mechanism: When water goes into the ear it may bring some bacteria or fungi with it. Usually water comes out, the ear dries and germs do not contaminate the ear. Sometimes though, water gets trapped in the outer ear canal (OEC), making the skin watery and thus creating an ideal environment for the spread of fungal organisms and bacteria that contaminate the area.