Symptoms range from the ear feeling blocked and itchy right up to it swelling shut and oozing a milky liquid. Glands in the neck may also become swollen. Swimmers Ear can be prevented by using antiseptic eardrops whenever you feel that water is trapped in your ears. Such eardrops are inexpensive and are sold without prescription under various trade names such as Aqua Ear, Ear Magic, Swim Ear, etc. If your ear doctor says you have normal eardrums, and if he says it is safe, you could make up your own eardrops to use after swimming.
Many doctors recommend rubbing alcohol as an important ingredient.
It absorbs the water, helps dry out the ear, and may even kill the bacteria and funguses that cause swimmer's ear. I put 3-4 drops in each ear immediately after leaving the water and my ear problems are now minor. It is called Cortane B-Otic by Blansett Pharmaceuticals. My wife and her swim team all use it religiously. The greatest advantage to this over other antibiotic ear drops is that it can be used preventatively as well as for treatment.