Also called Swimmer’s Ear, this is an infection of the outer ear canal caused by either fungus or bacteria. Water that remains trapped in the ear canal (when swimming, for example) can provide a breeding ground for these bacteria and fungi. Symptoms include redness of the outer ear; itching in the ear; pain, especially when touching or wiggling the earlobe; drainage from the ear; swollen glands in the neck; a swollen ear canal; hearing loss.