Ear Infection Treatment in Phuket: Swimmer’s Ear, Middle Ear Infections and Flying
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician, Takecare Clinic Phuket. Last reviewed: September 2026.
“Swimmer’s ear is one of the most common reasons people come to our Kata and Patong clinics, especially divers and children who spend all day in the pool. It starts with an itch and a feeling of water stuck in the ear, and within a day or two even touching the earlobe hurts. The treatment is simple once you know which part of the ear is infected, and that takes one look with an otoscope.” Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan
Types of ear infection
Otitis externa (swimmer’s ear)
Otitis externa is an infection or inflammation of the ear canal, the tube between the outside of the ear and the eardrum. Water that stays in the canal after swimming softens the skin and washes away protective wax, and bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus then multiply in the warm, damp space. Phuket’s warm sea, pools and humidity make it very common here, as do cotton buds and earphones that scratch the canal.
Otitis media (middle ear infection)
Otitis media is an infection behind the eardrum, in the air-filled middle ear. It usually follows a cold, flu or allergy that blocks the Eustachian tube, the small channel linking the middle ear to the back of the nose. Fluid builds up and becomes infected. It is most common in young children but also affects adults, and a long flight with a blocked nose can bring it on.
Ear barotrauma
Barotrauma is damage caused by pressure change when the Eustachian tube cannot equalise pressure, typically on a plane’s descent or when diving. It causes pain, muffled hearing and sometimes bleeding, and can mimic an infection.
| Condition | Typical clues | Usual treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) | Itch, then pain when pulling the earlobe, swollen canal, discharge | Antibiotic or acidifying ear drops, keep ear dry 7 to 10 days |
| Middle ear infection (otitis media) | Deep pain after a cold, fever, muffled hearing, red bulging eardrum | Pain relief; oral antibiotics if severe or not improving |
| Perforated eardrum | Sudden discharge after severe pain, pain then eases, reduced hearing | Keep dry, safe drops only, no swimming or diving until healed |
| Barotrauma | Pain or fullness after a flight or dive, no fever | Decongestant, pain relief, no diving until cleared |
| Ear wax blockage | Blocked, muffled ear, little pain, often after swimming | Wax removal |
How we diagnose and treat ear infections at Takecare
The doctor asks about swimming, diving, recent flights, colds and any past ear surgery or perforations, then looks in the ear canal and at the eardrum with an otoscope, a small lighted magnifier. That single look usually separates the outer from the middle ear and shows whether the eardrum is intact. We check the throat and nose too, since a middle ear infection often comes from there.
For swimmer’s ear, the main treatment is ear drops, not tablets. Drops containing an antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin, often combined with a steroid to reduce swelling, are typically used for about seven days, and acetic acid drops are an option for milder cases. If the canal is very swollen or blocked with debris, the doctor gently cleans it so the drops can reach the skin, and sometimes places a small wick. Oral antibiotics are only needed if the infection spreads to the outer ear or face, or if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system.
Many middle ear infections in adults and older children get better on their own within about three days, so regular paracetamol or ibuprofen may be all that is needed. The doctor prescribes an antibiotic, usually amoxicillin, if the infection is severe, if there is discharge from a perforation, if symptoms last more than two or three days, or for young children with infections in both ears. A decongestant nasal spray for a few days can help the Eustachian tube drain.
Flying and diving with an ear infection
Swimmer’s ear on its own does not usually make flying unsafe, although the ear may feel uncomfortable. A middle ear infection is different: the blocked Eustachian tube cannot equalise pressure, so descent can be very painful and can occasionally rupture the eardrum. If you have a flight booked, tell the doctor. We can often time treatment, pain relief and a decongestant spray around the journey. On the plane, swallow, yawn, chew gum or gently pinch your nose and blow during descent, and give babies a feed or dummy.
Do not dive or snorkel deeply with any active ear infection, a blocked nose or a perforated eardrum. Water entering the middle ear through a perforation can cause severe dizziness underwater, which is dangerous. Most people with swimmer’s ear can return to the water 7 to 10 days after starting treatment, once the pain and swelling have gone. Divers with barotrauma or a perforation should not dive again until a doctor has confirmed the ear has healed.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if ear pain lasts more than two or three days, if there is discharge from the ear, if you have a fever, if you notice hearing loss, or if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system. Children with ear pain and fever, or who are pulling at their ear and unusually irritable, should be checked the same day. Ear pain after a dive should always be examined before you dive again. Sudden hearing loss in one ear without pain or discharge is not typical of an infection and needs assessment the same day, because early treatment gives the best chance of recovery.
Go to a hospital emergency department or call 1669 if you have swelling, redness and pain behind the ear that pushes it forward, which can mean mastoiditis, a serious infection of the bone behind the ear. The same applies to a severe headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, weakness of the face, or sudden severe dizziness with vomiting, particularly after a dive.
Prevention and early detection
To prevent swimmer’s ear, tip your head to drain water after swimming and dry the outer ear gently with a towel. A hairdryer on the lowest, coolest setting held at arm’s length helps. Custom or well-fitting earplugs are useful for frequent swimmers. Acidifying ear drops after swimming can help people who get repeated infections, but only if the eardrum is intact. Do not use cotton buds, which push wax deeper and scratch the canal.
To avoid middle ear problems when flying or diving, do not fly or dive with a heavy cold if you can avoid it. Treat a blocked nose from allergies before a trip, and equalise early and often when diving. If you feel pressure you cannot clear, stop the descent.
Visiting Takecare Clinic in Phuket
You can walk in at any time to Takecare Clinic Bangtao (Cherngtalay), our Kata-Karon clinic near the beaches or Takecare Clinic Patong. An ear examination takes only a few minutes, and drops and pain relief come from our on-site pharmacy, so most visits take under 30 minutes.
If a child is in pain at night or you would rather not travel, a doctor can come to you with a hotel or villa visit. Message us on WhatsApp or call 081-718-9080.
We confirm the price before your visit, offer direct billing with most travel insurers, and supply a medical report and itemised receipt for claims or for your dive operator.
Related services and treatments
If your ear feels blocked but not painful, wax may be the cause, and our ear wax removal service can clear it safely. Middle ear infections often follow a respiratory illness, so our pages on flu care, COVID-19 treatment in Phuket and sore throat treatment may also be relevant. Ear pain with swollen, white tonsils often comes from tonsillitis.
A constantly blocked nose from allergies raises the risk of ear problems when flying, which our allergy treatment in Phuket page covers. People with a lingering cough can read about bronchitis treatment, and those with asthma about asthma care. For anything else, a walk-in doctor in Phuket is available at every branch.
Summary
Most ear infections in Phuket are either swimmer’s ear, an infection of the ear canal treated with drops and keeping the ear dry, or a middle ear infection after a cold, which often settles with pain relief and sometimes needs amoxicillin. An otoscope examination tells them apart and shows whether the eardrum is perforated, which changes which drops are safe. Do not dive with an ear infection, and get advice before flying with a middle ear infection.
“After every swim, tip your head, let the water run out and dry your ear. If it starts to itch or feel blocked, keep it out of the water and let us look at it early. A few days of the right drops is far better than a week out of the sea.” Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep swimming with an ear infection?
Not until it has cleared. With swimmer’s ear, water in the canal slows healing and washes out the drops, so keep the ear dry for about 7 to 10 days. With a perforated eardrum, avoid swimming and diving until a doctor confirms it has healed. The doctor will tell you when it is safe to get back in the water.
Can I fly with an ear infection?
Flying with swimmer’s ear is usually fine. Flying with an acute middle ear infection can be very painful and occasionally ruptures the eardrum, because the pressure cannot equalise. If you have a flight booked, tell the doctor, who can often plan treatment, pain relief and a decongestant around your journey, and advise if it would be better to delay.
Do I need antibiotics for an ear infection?
Swimmer’s ear is treated with antibiotic or acidifying ear drops rather than tablets. Many middle ear infections settle within about three days with pain relief alone. Oral antibiotics such as amoxicillin are used when the infection is severe, there is discharge, symptoms last more than two or three days, or in young children with both ears affected.
How quickly can I see a doctor for ear pain?
Walk in to any Takecare branch in Bangtao, Kata or Patong, 24 hours a day, with no appointment. You are usually seen within minutes, the ear examination takes a few minutes, and drops or medicine are dispensed from our pharmacy. Most people leave within 30 minutes with treatment started.
Can a doctor check my child’s ear at our hotel?
Yes. Ear pain in children often gets worse at night, and our doctors visit hotels and villas anywhere in Phuket at any hour. The doctor brings an otoscope to examine the ear, gives pain relief, and prescribes drops or antibiotics if they are needed, so your child can be treated without leaving the room.
Will travel insurance cover ear infection treatment?
Most travel insurance policies cover the consultation and medicine for an ear infection that begins during your trip. Some policies have conditions for diving-related injuries, so check the wording if you dived. We offer direct billing with most travel insurers and provide a medical report and itemised receipt for claims.
Sources
NHS: Ear infections. NHS: Otitis externa. MedlinePlus: Ear infections.
Ear infection, otitis externa, swimmer’s ear, otitis media, middle ear infection, acute otitis media, perforated eardrum, tympanic membrane, ear barotrauma, Eustachian tube, mastoiditis, ear wax, otoscope, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, ciprofloxacin ear drops, acetic acid ear drops, ear wick, amoxicillin, paracetamol, ibuprofen, decongestant, aminoglycoside ototoxicity, scuba diving, flying, NHS, MedlinePlus, Bangtao, Cherngtalay, Kata, Karon, Patong, Phuket, Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Takecare Clinic Phuket.
This page is general health information and not a substitute for a medical consultation.