Exams and Tests

The doctor can easily make a diagnosis of swimmer's ear after taking a brief history and performing a limited physical examination. Pain produced by gently pulling on the ear as the doctor attempts to examine the ear canal is a likely sign of swimmer's ear.

• The doctor may look at the ear canal with a lighted scope called an otoscope. With this, the ear canal can be seen to be swollen, red, and sometimes coated with a whitish material called an exudate.

• The doctor may examine the drainage from the ear under a microscope to determine if bacteria or fungi are causing the infection. This allows the doctor to prescribe either an antibacterial or an antifungal medicine.

• X-rays and blood tests are rarely needed.