Ear infection treatment in Bang Tao
Three days of swimming and now one ear is throbbing. It hurts to lie on that side, tugging your earlobe makes you wince, and the pain is keeping you awake. This is swimmer’s ear, and on a beach holiday it is one of the most common problems we see. Ear infection treatment in Bang Tao usually means antibiotic ear drops, and the pain settles within a couple of days.
Outer ear or middle ear
The two are treated completely differently, which is why an examination matters more than guessing.
Outer ear infection — swimmer’s ear — affects the canal. It is caused by water softening the skin and letting bacteria in, the canal looks red and swollen, and the giveaway is that pulling the earlobe or pressing the flap in front of the ear hurts. Middle ear infection sits behind the eardrum, usually follows a cold, is commoner in children, and does not hurt when you tug the ear.
Why Bang Tao produces so many of these
Days in warm sea water, then a pool, then a hot humid environment where the canal never fully dries. Add cotton buds, which strip the protective wax and scratch the canal, and the conditions are close to ideal for infection.
Wax is not the enemy here — it is mildly acidic and protects against infection. Removing it with buds before a week of swimming makes swimmer’s ear more likely, not less.
How it is treated
Outer ear infections are treated with antibiotic ear drops, sometimes combined with a steroid to reduce the swelling. Drops work far better than tablets for this, because they reach the infection directly. If the canal is too swollen for drops to get in, a small wick is placed to carry the medication through.
Pain relief matters — this is genuinely painful, and paracetamol or ibuprofen should be taken regularly for the first couple of days rather than only when it becomes unbearable. Improvement is usually clear within 48 hours, and drops are continued for the full course.
Keeping water out while it heals
This is the part that decides whether it clears in three days or drags on for two weeks. No swimming and no diving until it has settled. When showering, keep the ear dry — a smear of petroleum jelly on a cotton ball at the entrance of the canal works well.
Do not put anything into the ear canal, including buds, to dry it. Tilt your head and let it drain, and dry the outer ear only. Once healed, drying your ears after swimming for the rest of the trip prevents a repeat.
When to come back the same day
Return, or go to a hospital, if there is:
- Swelling or redness spreading onto the skin behind or below the ear
- A fever with the ear pain
- Sudden loss of hearing
- Dizziness or a spinning sensation
- Facial weakness on the same side
- Pain that is worsening despite two days of drops
Redness and tenderness over the bone behind the ear can indicate mastoiditis, which needs hospital treatment. If the ear is blocked rather than painful, it may simply be wax — see ear wax removal.
Frequently asked questions
How much does treatment cost?
A consultation plus ear drops is inexpensive, and one course usually resolves it. You are quoted the total before the medication is dispensed.
How soon can I swim again?
Usually about a week, and only once the pain has gone and the canal has settled. Going back too early is the main reason these infections recur.
Can I dive?
Not until it is fully healed. A swollen canal or an inflamed eardrum will not equalise, and diving risks perforation. Ask for a check before returning to the water.
Can a doctor come to my hotel?
Yes. A doctor hotel visit carries an otoscope and can examine the ear and supply drops in your room.
Are ear infections contagious?
No. You cannot pass swimmer’s ear to anyone else, though several people swimming in the same water can each develop it independently.
Come in, or we come to you
Take Care Medical Clinic Bang Tao is open open 24 hours, 7 days a week on Bandon Road in Cherng Talay, a few minutes from Bang Tao Beach and Laguna Phuket. Walk in without an appointment, call +66 81 718 9080, or message us on WhatsApp. If you would rather not move, ask for a doctor hotel visit and we will come to your room.