Swimmer's Ear Season Is Back: What Long Island Families Should Know This Summer

Summer in the Long Island sun and heat means beach days, pool parties, and constantly seeking ways to cool down. Whether it’s a pool, ocean, lake, or even a backyard sprinkler, splashing around is a fun and effective way to beat the summer heat.

While all that time in the water is part of what makes this season so much fun, it can also increase the risk of a common summertime health issue: swimmer's ear. As an urgent care clinician and a mom, I’ve seen how a painful ear infection can stop the fun in an instant. The good news is that many ear infections can be avoided, and if they do happen, it's easy to get them treated so you can get back to the fun fast!

Ear infections are common all year round, but we do see a bit of a surge in the summer months due to increased water exposure. In the summer, we most often see a rise in swimmer’s ear, or otitis externa.Bacteria loves to grow in dark, warm, moist locations, and the ear canal is perfect for this. If your child is complaining of ear pain, particularly when you touch or pull on the ear, it's time to get it checked out.

It's also important to know that swimmer's ear is different from a traditional ear infection. Traditional ear infections, or otitis media, occur in the space behind the eardrum, often following a cold and including symptoms like fever and congestion. These frequently require treatment with oral antibiotics. However, swimmer’s ear is usually a simple infection in front of the eardrum inside the canal that can be treated with prescription antibiotic ear drops.

New Yorkers commonly turn to urgent care for situations like these. According to new findings from the 2025 Urgent Care Pulse Check Survey, commissioned by Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care (conducted by Wakefield Research), 81% of New York households have visited an urgent care center in the past year. With 16% of parents in the U.S. reporting that their family deals with ear infections or ear pain annually, know that you’re not alone if your little one wakes up with ear pain. You can head to your pediatrician or your local Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care to get it checked out with an easy exam.

Know the Signs of Swimmer's Ear

Watch for symptoms including:

• Pain when touching or pulling on the outer ear
• Itchiness in the ear canal
• Redness or tenderness around the ear canal
• Inflammation or swelling
• Cloudy or discolored drainage from the ear

If symptoms develop, a warm heating pad may provide temporary comfort, and over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve pain. However, if symptoms persist or worsen, it's important to seek medical care.

Tips for Prevention

If you want to beat the heat AND avoid ear infections, try these simple steps:

• Make sure to dry out those ears after the water play is over
• Use over-the-counter preventative ear drops
• Earplugs or swim caps can also be a good tool
• Avoid putting cotton swabs or other objects into the ear canal

Prevention is key, and by doing these simple things, you can dive right back into the summer fun! Stay cool and enjoy!