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    Consumer Health: Enjoy the water — avoid swimmer’s ear

five smiling tweenage girls and boys leaning on the edge of a swimming pool with water splashing behind them

Swimmer's ear
It's summertime, and the pools are busy. And more swimming may mean swimmer's ear, or otitis externa. Swimmer's ear is an infection in the outer ear canal, which runs from your eardrum to the outside of your head. Often, the cause is water that remains in your ear after swimming, creating a moist environment that aids bacterial growth. Learn about the symptoms of swimmer's ear and prevention measures that may keep your family healthy and swimming happily all summer.

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