What Is the Difference Between Swimmer's Ear and a Ruptured Eardrum?

Although both deal with problems in the ear, swimmer's ear and a ruptured eardrum are two different conditions. Swimmer's ear is an infection located in the ear canal, while a ruptured eardrum is an actual tear in the drum itself.

Causes

• Swimmer's ear is most commonly caused by a bacterial infection introduced by a rash or injury to the inner ear canal. A rupture occurs in the eardrum from an infection of the middle ear, a change in the pressures exerted on the drum, or an injury from an object, such as a cotton swab or bobby pin.

Symptoms

• Some similar symptoms of both conditions include ear pain, some form of pus discharge and ringing in the ears. Swimmer's ear can also include itching in the ears and muffled hearing. A ruptured eardrum can result in a feeling of vertigo and nausea.

Diagnosis

• For both swimmer's ear and a ruptured eardrum, a visual inspection of the inside of the ear canal is usually all that is needed for diagnosis. A ruptured eardrum may require additional tests to determine the extent of the damage.

Treatment

• Swimmer's ear treatment involves medications such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to combat the infection and to let your ear heal. Most ruptured eardrums heal on their own within a few weeks, but additional assistance such as an eardrum patch or surgery may be necessary if the tear is not healing properly.

Complications

• Various complications can appear if either condition does not heal properly, such as hearing loss and various infections of the ear, skin and cartilage.