Signs and symptoms related to swimmer’s ear typically appear within a few days of infection. Intense pain is the chief symptom associated with this type of ear infection. It is usually felt when a person touches or pulls on the visible portion of the outer ear (pinna or auricle) or pushes on the bump in front of the ear (tragus). In most cases, just one ear is involved.

Other symptoms that often accompany swimmer’s ear include:

• Itchiness of the outer ear
• Drainage from the ear (may be foul-smelling or pus-like)
• Hearing loss
• Redness, scaling or flaking of the skin of the outer ear
• Red, swollen ear canal
• Sensation of fullness or stuffiness in the ear
• Swelling of the ear or lymph nodes in the neck

People are typically urged to make an appointment with a physician if they have pain, swelling or drainage associated with their ears.