Swimmer's Ear
Andrea Jones, RN, BSN
June 2009
With summer here, there are a lot of families planning on spending time poolside. Children will spend time swimming and splashing around in the water. This will allow your child's ears to be exposed to extra moisture which can put them at risk for getting otitis externa, or "swimmer's ear."
What is Swimmer's ear?
Swimmer's ear is an infection of the ear canal. In most cases, bacteria cause this infection in a thin layer of skin lining the ear canal.
How will you know if your child has swimmer’s ear?
Itchy and painful ear canals, currently or recently was swimming, pain when the outer ear is moved up and down, pain when the tab of the outer ear canal is pushed in, a plugged up feeling in the ear, clear drainage initially and then yellow.
How can I treat my child’s swimmer’s ear?
For most cases, prescription antibiotic drops are needed. Occasionally, for more severe cases, a small wick is placed into the ear canal so that the medication can work its way deeper into the ear. For pain you can give your child ibuprofen or acetaminophen. We also suggest trying to keep your child out of the water until the symptoms resolve. If this is not possible make sure to use the drops after they swim. With treatment the symptoms should be better in 3 days.
How can I prevent swimmer’s ear?
The key to prevention is trying to keep your child’s ears dry. To do this dry their ears well after swimming and have them turn their head side to side to remove any excess water. You may also try earplugs. If swimmer’s ear reoccurs you can rinse your child’s ear canal with ½ rubbing alcohol and ½ white vinegar after swimming and before bedtime.
Have a safe and wonderful summer!