Also known as infection of the outer ear or otitis externa, the condition occurs when unclean water gets trapped in the outer ear canal after swimming, and starts breeding germs, which can cause infection. In Swimmer’s ear, the ear might get itchy, red or swollen, and may even leak pus. However, the infection is not contagious. The best way to avoid it is to keep the ears dry and clean after swimming. In most cases, the doctor would prescribe you antibiotic ear drops for clearing up the infection.

Air Pressure

The ear does a pretty fine job of keeping the air pressure balanced on both sides of the eardrum. And part of this process is that little pop we hear every time we swallow something. However, sudden changes in the air pressure, such as taking an elevator, diving into the bottom of the swimming pool or travelling on an aeroplane, can throw off this balance and cause ear pain, muffling or mild hearing loss.

The best way to prevent this, especially during air travel is to chew gum, suck on hard candy or swallow during landing and take-off. Also, if you are experiencing a cold or sinus infection, avoid travelling and deep diving.

Middle Ear Infection

Sinus infection, cold or allergy can block the tubes in the middle ear and allows the fluid to build up. This is called middle-ear infection or otitis media. It is considered to be the most common reason for earaches. If left untreated, a middle ear infection can spread, and even cause hearing loss.

The doctor may recommend using a combination of antihistamine and nasal steroids for treating allergies. If the reason behind infection is bacteria, then expect some antibiotics prescription.

Other Causes

There could be other reasons for earache. Some of them are:

• Toothache can also lead to ear pain since the facial nerves and the neck are very close to the inner ear.
• Earache accompanied by a high sore throat could indicate conditions like tonsillitis or pharyngitis.
• Cavities, tooth abscesses and impacted molars could also be the reasons behind earache.
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, or the problem of the joints that connect the jaw to the side of the head, can cause earaches.

In some cases, ear pain can be due to an underlying infection such as shingles or cellulitis and may also be a tumour. If you are experiencing severe pain that doesn’t resolve within a few days of home treatment, or if you are having a sore throat, fever or new rashes, then it's time to make an appointment with the doctor as soon as possible.