Emeka spent a week in a hotel pool for a training camp. By day 5, his right ear was so swollen inside that sound was muffled. He came to Mascot Healthcare where a combination of ear cleaning, topical antibiotic drops, and canal drying protocol cleared his ear within 10 days.
University swimmer, Yaba. Presented with intense right ear pain, swelling of the external ear canal (narrowing to near-occlusion), watery discharge, and hearing reduction — developing over 5 days after intense training camp. Canal swab grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Otitis Externa (Swimmer's Ear)The training camp was in a hotel with a shared pool. Eight swimmers, four sessions per day. On day three Emeka noticed a mild itch in his right ear. He dismissed it — itchy ears after swimming were normal for him. By day five he was in pain and his ear felt "full."
The coach told him to use a cotton bud to dry it out. Emeka used the cotton bud. The canal swelled further — the cotton bud had disrupted the protective skin lining and introduced bacteria deeper into the canal.
He came to Mascot Healthcare. The doctor used an otoscope to examine the ear — the canal was severely inflamed and almost completely occluded with oedematous tissue. A gentle swab was taken. He was told: "This is otitis externa. We need to get drops in there — but first we need to clear enough of the canal to let them work."
Otitis externa (swimmer's ear) is an infection of the external ear canal — typically triggered by prolonged water exposure that disrupts the natural acidic protective film of the canal skin.
Pain inside and around the right ear — exquisitely worse when the tragus was pressed or the ear moved.
The ear canal had swollen nearly shut — causing muffled hearing.
Clear to slightly cloudy watery discharge from the right ear.
Approximately 50% reduction in hearing on the right — from canal occlusion rather than middle ear damage.
Afebrile — indicating the infection was confined to the outer canal without deep spread.
Cotton bud use — the most common aggravating factor in otitis externa; disrupts canal skin and pushes debris deeper.
Olive oil drops — soothing; no antibacterial effect.
Paracetamol — insufficient analgesia for severe otitis externa.
The inflamed canal was gently cleaned using microsuction under direct vision to remove debris and improve drop penetration. Medicated ear drops were prescribed, used several times a day for about a week. A cotton wick was placed in the canal to allow drops to penetrate the occluded lumen.
Emeka was advised: no swimming for 10 days; no water in the ear; tilt the head for 60 seconds after applying drops; do not use cotton buds. Prevention for future training: acidifying ear drops after swimming (to prevent recurrence), earplugs.
The swab returned: Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Acute Otitis Externa — Pseudomonas aeruginosa (canal swab confirmed); swimmer's ear exacerbated by cotton bud use
Canal microsuction; cotton wick insertion; medicated ear drops for about a week; no swimming × 10 days; post-swim acidifying drops for prevention
At 5 days: canal visibly less swollen; pain reduced 70%. At 10 days: canal fully clear; hearing restored to normal.
Emeka's ear cleared completely within 10 days. He returned to pool training with protective earplugs and uses acetic acid drops after every session. No recurrence.
Swimmer's ear (otitis externa) is preventable with simple post-swim ear acidification. Cotton buds worsen it dramatically. Medical treatment — canal cleaning and antibiotic drops — resolves it quickly when started early.
If ear pain develops during or after prolonged pool exposure, seek assessment within 48 hours — before the canal swells shut and drops cannot penetrate.
Never use cotton buds for swimmer's ear — they make it worse. Antibiotic drops work fast when the canal is cleared properly.
Walk in to Mascot Healthcare, Akoka — same-day consultation, transparent pricing, 4.9★ rated.